DATE: May 12, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sally Gomez, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Department Celebrations and Recognitions
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Ratify the County Administrative Officer’s approval of the Library’s celebrations identified in Attachments A and B, in compliance with Administrative Policy No. 81; and
2. Approve and authorize the Library to recognize and celebrate holidays, themes, events, days, weeks, or months identified in Attachments C through I, for five years or until approval is rescinded by the Board, in compliance Administrative Policy No. 81.
REPORT
There is no increase Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended actions. Administrative Policy No. 81 (AP 81) requires prior approval by a majority of the Board of Supervisors for department celebrations and recognition of holidays, themes, events, days, weeks or months (collectively, Celebrations). The first recommended action requests retroactive Board approval of the celebrations identified in Attachments A and B. These Celebrations, or the promotion of those Celebrations, occurred prior to the Board meeting and were approved by the County Administrative Officer (CAO), subject to Board ratification, in accordance with AP 81. The second recommended action requests Board approval to recognize and celebrate the events identified in Attachments C through I. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may approve all or some of the celebrations and recognitions described in Attachments A through I. Should your Board not approve a specific celebration or recognition, the Library will not officially and publicly celebrate or recognize that specific holiday, theme, event, day, week, or month.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no NCC associated with the recommended actions. Costs associated with program supplies and implementation will be covered within Org 7511. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Library Org 7511 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget and are funded through Measure B library sales tax revenue.
Any event or causes in which the Library intends to incur expenses for sponsorships or contributions will be brought to your Board for approval in accordance with Administrative Policy No. 80.
DISCUSSION:
On August 5, 2025, your Board discussed and provided direction for an approval process for Celebrations by County departments. On September 9, 2025, your Board approved AP 81 - Department Celebrations and Recognitions, which allows County departments to officially and publicly celebrate or recognize those Celebrations that are approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors by resolution, proclamation, or through the agenda item process prior to their occurrence.
AP 81 provides that if a Celebration opportunity arises that, in the CAO’s judgment, would be approved by the Board, but comes to a Department Head’s attention prior the next scheduled Board meeting, and would occur or begin prior to the next scheduled Board meeting, the CAO may approve the Celebration subject to ratification by the Board. The requesting department must then submit an Agenda Item to the Board of Supervisors for the earliest practicable Board date after the CAO’s approval.
On March 25, 2026, the Library received CAO approval to recognize and celebrate the following Celebrations identified in Attachment A:
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Passover
Easter
Drop Everything and Read Day (D.E.A.R.)
Money Smart Week
National Library Week
Administrative Professionals Day
National Shakespeare Day
Preservation Week
El Dia de los ninos / El dia de los libros
Law Day
Vesak (Buddha Day)
Celiac Awareness Month
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) Awareness Month
National Children’s Book Week
National Teacher Day
On April 21, 2026, your Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo to partner in the Library’s annual Summer At Your Library programming. This year’s SAYL theme is ‘Go Wild for Reading.’ On April 22, 2026, the Library received CAO approval to recognize, celebrate, and promote the 2026 SAYL theme identified in Attachment B. Although the program runs from June 15, 2026 through August 2, 2026, the Library began promoting the program on April 22, 2026. Accordingly, the first Recommended Action requests ratification of the CAO’s approval of the celebrations identified in Attachments A and B for purposes of AP 81.
Attachments C through I identify additional holidays, themes, events, days, weeks, or months the Library requests approval to recognize or celebrate which include the following:
Attachment C - Eid al-Adha
Attachment D - D Day Memorial Day
Attachment E - Flag Day
Attachment F - Father’s Day
Attachment G - Caribbean American Heritage Month
Attachment H - Disability Pride Month
Attachment I - Women's Equality Day
Majority of Celebrations identified in Attachments A through I are recognized either through Library displays, booklists, website announcements, social media posts, internal or external newsletters, activities, and informational materials that can be themed around the observance, to raise awareness of Library services and encourage community engagement. Additionally, the themes may be used in programming and displays throughout the year.
The proposed Celebrations represent the Library’s core services, which include providing relevant and meaningful programs and services that reflect community needs. These programs are a part of the regular and traditional offerings that foster social connections and support cultural and civic engagement and lifelong learning.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #49, April 21, 2026
BAI #7, September 9, 2025
BAI #9, August 5, 2025
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A - CAO Approval Memo
Attachment B - CAO Approval Memo (SAYL)
Attachment C - Eid al-Adha
Attachment D - D Day Memorial Day
Attachment E - Flag Day
Attachment F - Father's Day
Attachment G - Caribbean American Heritage Month
Attachment H - Disability Pride Month
Attachment I - Women's Equality Day
CAO ANALYST:
Mary Lu Valencia