DATE: February 26, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kelley Worman-Landano, County Librarian
SUBJECT: American Library Association Grant Applications/Agreements
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the County Librarian’s previous submittal of two grant applications to the American Library Association to implement the “Great Stories Club: Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Series” ($1,300);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to ratify the County Librarian’s previous execution of two grant award agreements and acceptance of grant funds from the American Library Association, effective March 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 ($1,300);
3. Authorize the County Librarian, or their designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for the two grant agreements; and
4. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2018-19 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 in the amount of $1,300 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded two “Great Stories Club: Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Series” Grants totaling $1,300 to the Library, effective March 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The Library submitted the grant application contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Great Stories Club will provide books and associated programming costs for the TRHT Series programs. Approval of the recommended actions will provide funding that will allow the Library to implement a TRHT Series program at the West Fresno and Fig Garden Library branches. The themes of the Great Stories Club will engage teens who are facing difficult challenges through literature-based library outreach programs. This item impacts Districts One and Two.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the grant award from the ALA, which will result in the Library not receiving funding to implement two “Great Stories Club: TRHT Series” programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant from the ALA Great Stories Club will provide books and programming costs totaling $1,300 for the two TRHT series programs. The agreement for the program at the West Fresno Library Branch requests $100 in funding and the agreement for the program at the Fig Garden Library requests $1,200 in funding. The programming funds will be utilized to fund the following: refreshments for program participants and the purchase of journals, art supplies, and other related program materials. There is no required match or in-kind contribution. Staff costs to administer the Programs have been included in the FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget Org 7511 and will be included in the FY 2019-20 budget request.
DISCUSSION:
Created in 2006 by the ALA, the Great Stories Club has reached more than 700 libraries in 49 states and more than 30,000 young adults (ages 13 to 21). Since its inception, the ALA Great Stories Club has received funding from Oprah’s Angel Network, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The ALA Great Stories Club provides a thematic reading and discussion program that engages teens who are facing difficult challenges through literature-based library outreach programs and is conducted by libraries working in partnership with juvenile justice facilities, alternative schools, residential treatment facilities, group homes, and other community service organizations.
The two ALA Great Stories Club grant agreements will provide the Library with the opportunity to work with small groups of teens to read and discuss stories that explore both of the TRHT Series themes, "Finding Your Voice" and "Deeper Than Our Skins: The Present is a Conversation with the Past". The Library will host the two reading and discussion programs at two separate Library branches. The “Finding Your Voice” program will take place in the Library’s West Fresno branch due to its close proximity to Edison High School. Library staff requested $100 in grant funds to cover the “Finding Your Voice” program cost of providing refreshments. The "Deeper Than Our Skins: The Present is a Conversation with the Past" program will utilize both the Fresno American Indian Clubhouse (FAIC) and the Library’s Fig Garden branch. The Library chose the Fig Garden branch due to its proximity to Bullard High School and the FAIC. Library staff requested $1,200 in grant funds to cover the “Deeper Than Our Skins” program cost of journals, art supplies, refreshments, and other related program materials. Each program will cover four thematically related books chosen to resonate with reluctant readers struggling with complex issues like academic probation, detention, incarceration, violence, and poverty.
The Library submitted the grant application retroactively, as ALA published a request for applications on September 5, 2018, with a submission deadline of November 16, 2018. The determination to apply for this grant was not made until a feasible plan of action was developed which would result in a successful program. The planning process included identifying a target audience and identifying potential partners. The Library submitted the grant applications on November 16, 2018, contingent upon your Board’s approval. ALA sent the award notice, dated December 7, 2018. The “Deeper Than Our Skins: The Present is a Conversation with the Past” agreement was signed on December 10, 2018 and the “Finding Your Voice” agreement was signed on December 11, 2018. The second recommended action requests that your Board ratify the Librarian’s previous signature on the grant award and agreement. The Librarian signed the award and 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 ALA - Finding Your Voice
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with ALA - Deeper than Our Skins
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck