DATE: August 23, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Laurel C. Prysiazny, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Retroactive Library Services Technology Act Grant Award
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the County Librarian’s previous submittal of a grant application to the California State Library (CSL) for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds ($89,386);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive grant agreement with the CSL effective July 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017 ($89,386), and authorize the County Librarian, or their designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for this grant agreement; and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Organization 7517 in the amount of $89,386 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The CSL has awarded the Library an $89,386 grant effective July 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017. The grant will fund a Digibus Mobile Classroom, which will allow the Library to create a mobile computer class to host digital literacy and job searching classes for Fresno County residents.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the grant award from the CSL, which will result in the Library not hosting mobile digital literacy and job searching classes for Fresno County residents.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The request to approve and accept the grant award is retroactive because the Library received notice to apply for the grant on April 11, 2016 with a submission deadline of June 15, 2016. The Library was later notified of the grant award on July 6, 2016. In order to meet the filing deadline, the application was previously submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval and is being brought to your Board at the first available Board date. Grant funds will not be expended prior to Board acceptance of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The $89,386 grant from the CSL will be used for small tools and instruments ($47,029) and contracted services ($42,357) associated with the mobile computer classroom. The grant will be supplemented by staff costs ($50,608) and retrofitting the Winnebago costs ($37,000) to be funded with Measure B revenue. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the staffing costs and repairs and maintenance costs are included in the Library - Measure B Organization 7511 FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget. Ongoing annual costs to maintain this program will be included in subsequent requested budgets. The Budget Resolution in the third recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Organization 7517 for FY 2016-17 in the amount of $89,386.
DISCUSSION:
The LSTA grant funding provided by the CSL exists to provide technology infrastructure for libraries. As a California public research institution, the CSL’s mission is to preserve California’s cultural heritage in addition to connecting people, libraries and government with the resources and tools they need to succeed. LSTA grants are traditionally more likely to be large in both scope and size. The Library will use the LSTA funding to develop a mobile digital literacy classroom, the Digibus, to increase the technology skills of residents throughout the County of Fresno.
The Library’s Digibus Mobile Classroom will aid residents in Fresno County by offering technology instruction onsite at locations throughout the County. The Library will retrofit a Winnebago donated by Reading & Beyond in 2014. Grant funds will pay for coding and instructors from Geekwise Academy, as well as technology on the Digibus. The Digibus will house thirteen laptops, a smart TV, a printer, and an Ethernet switch. In addition, the grant funding will be used to develop a bilingual online learning platform website which will be available on the Internet. The website platform will focus on job seekers resources and life skills information such as online banking and understanding an employer’s benefits package.
Once the website and mobile classroom are complete, the Library will deploy the Digibus throughout the County for the remainder of the fiscal year, using graduates from Geekwise Academy to provide onsite technology instruction. The Digibus, fully equipped as a mobile classroom, will be maintained by the Library, thus creating a niche Library service by providing critical technology connectivity to underserved areas in the County. Existing Library staff will maintain the website created specifically for local job seekers.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 24 - August 19, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CSL
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org. 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck