DATE: February 12, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kelley Worman-Landano, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Retroactive California Center for the Book Application/Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the County Librarian’s previous submittal of a grant application to the California Center for the Book for a “Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit” grant ($0);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to ratify the County Librarian’s previous execution of a retroactive grant award application/agreement with the California Center for the Book effective January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 ($0); and
3. Authorize the County Librarian, or their designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for this agreement.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The California Center for the Book (CCFB) has awarded a “Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit” Grant valued at $1,000 to the Library, effective January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019. The toolkit will provide books valued at $500 and will pay for programming events valued at $500 for “Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans 2019”. The programing events will encourage conversations and resource sharing with veterans, their families, and the greater community. The Library will partner with the Veteran Service Office, California Veterans Home - Fresno, Friends of the Library and Fresno Swing Dance to facilitate programming. To meet the grant application deadline of November 20, 2018, the Library submitted the application on November 16, 2018 contingent upon your Board’s approval. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the grant award from the CCFB which will result in the Library not receiving the “Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit” grant.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended application/agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2019 because the Library applied for the grant on November 16, 2018 after confirming the planned programming events met the grant requirements as well as deciding which community partners would enhance the Program. The Library received the grant award notice on November 27, 2018 and is bringing this item before your Board within the agenda item processing timelines.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant from the CCFB will provide a Veterans Toolkit that consists of books valued at $500 and direct payment of $500 to a community partner for programming events. There is no required match and the grant does not require an in-kind contribution. Staff costs to administer the Program have been included in the FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget Org 7511.
DISCUSSION:
CCFB is a program of the California Library Association, supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. CCFB is partnering with the Veterans Connect @ the Library, a statewide library initiative in partnership with California Department of Veterans Affairs that connects veterans and their families to benefits and services. The CCFB is providing the Library with a “Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit” that includes a collection of veterans-related books valued at $500 and programming event funds of $500 to be paid directly to one community partner, nonprofit, speaker, or moderator. As part of receipt of the funding, CCFB requires the Library to communicate on which programming processes and ideas are working best by actively participating and sharing with fellow librarians and CCFB program staff. The Library is also required to plan two community program events with a community partner such as a local nonprofit that serves veterans or a local veteran’s agency or service provider.
“Californians: Community Conversations with Veterans Toolkit” provides the Library the opportunity to increase the number of veteran-related books in its collection and shape programming events designed to engage the community of Fresno County in meaningful conversations with veterans. The Program will increase the Library’s ability to connect closely with veterans and their families while also helping veterans and their families connect to their community and resources. The Library has decided to provide two program events, both designed in collaboration with community partners. The initial program event will be an art workshop for veterans to create pieces of art that will be displayed at a local library branch for one month as part of Fresno’s monthly Art Hop event that will include a reception for the artists. The second program event will be an evening of music and swing dancing with a live band. The community program events will draw in veterans as well as the general public which will encourage conversation and resource sharing with veterans, their families, and/or the greater community.
The grant application was submitted retroactively as CCFB published a request for application on August 29, 2018 with a submission deadline of November 20, 2018. The Library submitted the application on November 16, 2018 after confirming its planned programming events met the CCFB requirements as well as deciding which community partners would enhance the Program. The grant application will become the agreement once approved by your Board. CCFB posted the award notice on their website on November 27, 2018. The second recommended action requests that your Board ratify the Librarian’s previous signature on the grant application/agreement. The Librarian signed the application/agreement in order to meet the grant funding timelines. It should be noted, the Department is currently working on internal processes in order to bring grant application/agreements to your Board in a timely manner.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with CCFB
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck