DATE: October 31, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kelley Worman-Landano, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Grant Award Agreement with Arts Midwest for the Big Read Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve Grant Award Agreement and authorize the County Librarian to execute all documents required to complete Grant Award Agreement with Arts Midwest on behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for The Big Read Program to promote “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” by Kao Kalia Yang, effective upon execution through October 31, 2018 ($14,000); and
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2017-18 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Organization 7517 in the amount of $14,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Library to accept $14,000 in Federal grant funding from Arts Midwest on behalf of the NEA to implement its 10th Big Read Program. The Program will promote “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” (“The Latehomecomer”) by Kao Kalia Yang. The funding will allow the Library to design programming that helps promote literacy as well as an understanding of Hmong culture.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the Arts Midwest NEA Big Read grant award, which will result in the Library not receiving funding to create NEA Big Read programming.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Library has been awarded a $14,000 grant from a NEA grant administered through Arts Midwest. The grant requires matching funds of at least a 1:1 ratio of non-Federal funding which the Library will meet with in-kind staffing costs of $15,914 and in-kind office expenses of $2,000. The in-kind office expenses cover materials to create flyers, programs, and schedules for The Big Read Program. The in-kind costs are included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget for the Library-Measure B Org 7511. Approval of the second recommended action will increase FY 2017-18 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Library Grants Org 7517 in the amount of $14,000.
DISCUSSION:
NEA Big Read is a national program that offers grants to support organizations in developing community-wide programs that encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences. Through this initiative, the NEA works with partners across the country to encourage Americans to read for pleasure, enlightenment, and self-realization. Seventy-five organizations across the country have been selected to participate in this year’s Program.
The Library, with community input, will be producing this year’s Big Read Program around Kao Kalia Yang’s “The Latehomecomer”. Published in 2008, “The Latehomecomer” is the first memoir written by a Hmong-American to be published with national distribution. The memoir offers a first-hand account of the struggles endured by one Hmong family as they escaped imprisonment in Laos, lived in a refugee camp in Thailand, and eventually immigrated to the United States.
Fresno County has a large Hmong population of approximately 35,000 people. The Library provides an array of programs relevant to every community, with a focus on uniting people with a better understanding of all cultures. “The Latehomecomer” will continue the Library’s efforts to unite the community around shared experiences and bring cultures together through arts, literature, and conversations on a common topic.
The Library has held nine NEA Big Read Programs. The Program’s goal is to reach as many Fresno County residents as possible who may not use libraries or literacy services and may not be aware these services exist in the community. The Big Read Program will reach out to a large segment of the population through programs designed to engage readers and non-readers that include dance, music, discussions, and arts and crafts. Events and exhibits for all ages surrounding the theme of this year’s featured book are planned at various locations, including the Library’s 37 branch locations.
The Fresno County Public Library will be collaborating on this event with many organizations including Stone Soup, the Hmong International New Year Organization, California State University, Fresno Department of Linguistics and Department of Art and Design, Central Unified School District, and Roosevelt School of the Arts, and Fresno City College. The Library will also be working with local media to generate positive media attention for this event.
The grant agreement states that the grantee’s electronic signature was required by May 26, 2017. The original grantee for this grant was The Foundation for the Fresno County Public Library (Foundation). The Foundation lacked the personnel and facilities to administer the grant, so Arts Midwest allowed the grantee to be changed from the Foundation to the Fresno County Public Library. Because of this change, Arts Midwest waived the requirement to provide an electronic signature by May 26, 2017 and provided the Library an amended copy of the agreement on August 16, 2017. The amended agreement requires the County Librarian’s signature. The first recommended action allows the County Librarian to electronically sign the agreement.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Arts Midwest
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck