DATE: July 7, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Raman Bath, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Retroactive California Humanities Library Innovations Lab Grant Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to ratify the County Librarian’s previous execution of a retroactive agreement and acceptance of grant funds from California Humanities, effective April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 ($5,000);
2. Authorize the County Librarian, or his designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for this agreement; and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 in the amount of $5,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. California Humanities (Cal Humanities) has awarded a grant to the Library in the amount of $5,000, effective April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Library to accept the grant funds to develop outreach programs specifically designed to serve immigrants via WithOutWalls Mobile Library (WOW). This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the grant award from Cal Humanities, which will result in the Library not developing outreach programs specifically designed to serve immigrants via WOW.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2020 due to the Cal Humanities grant period of April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 and receipt of grant award notice dated April 10, 2020. The Department did not have an approved budget and program plan determined in order to meet the associated Board agenda timelines prior to July 2020, due to the adjustments the Library was undergoing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds for this grant are disbursed in two phases as follows: the first disbursement of $1,000 was made after the signed agreement was received, and the second disbursement of $4,000 will be made after the budget and program plan is approved by Cal Humanities. Although the first disbursement of grant funds has been received, they will not be spent prior to acceptance by your Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The $5,000 grant from Cal Humanities will be used for materials ($1,000), advertising ($2,000), rental costs ($1,000), and professional and specialized services ($1,000) associated with the series of programs. The grant requires matching funds of at least 1:1 ratio. For FY 2020-21, the Library will meet the grant matching requirements with an in-kind contribution. The in-kind contribution covers a percentage of salaries and benefits for one Librarian with indirect costs calculated at 10%. Sufficient appropriations will be included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget for Org 7511, which will be presented to your Board in September 2020. The budget resolution in the third recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 for FY 2020-21 in the amount of $5,000.
DISCUSSION:
Cal Humanities is a non-profit that promotes the humanities and an open state of mind for residents of California. The non-profit organization aims to support creativity and experimentation in public humanities programming among diverse populations. The Cal Humanities Library Innovation Lab program aims to provide welcoming experiences for immigrants and foster more inclusive communities. Awarded participants will research, design, implement, and assess a small scale, short-term public humanities project at their Library. The participants will work in a collaborative learning environment that will incorporate face-to-face and virtual group meetings, as well as individualized advising, while exercising creativity and imagination through experimenting with new program approaches. The programs will be countywide via WOW, allowing for a crossover of several districts.
The Library is a direct recipient of a Cal Humanities Library Innovation Lab Grant that will allow the Library to explore new ways of reaching immigrants through outreach programs. The project began July 2020 with a planning phase that consisted of exploring ways to expand on current programs to best support multiple immigrant communities within Fresno County. The programs will reflect the research and community assessments conducted beyond the Library walls. The Library plans to hold three programs that will begin in October 2020. One will be specific to Syrian refugees, one to South East Asians (includes Laotian, Thai, Cambodian), and the third will not be specific to one immigrant group. For many immigrant communities libraries become more than just a place to access books and computers; libraries act as community centers. More than often the library is a first stop for patrons seeking information about social service, healthcare, taxes, immigration, education, and language services. The purpose of this grant program is to develop creative and innovative programming that will be directed to the needs and circumstances of immigrants in Fresno County.
Pursuant to Administrative Policy 27, the grant application was reviewed and approved for submission by the County Administrative Officer on February 25, 2020. The Librarian submitted the Application on March 2, 2020, and the Library received email confirmation of the grant award on April 10, 2020. The first recommended action requests to ratify the Librarian’s previous signature on the grant agreement. The Librarian signed the recommended agreement in order to meet the grant funding timelines. The second recommended action requests that your Board authorize the County Librarian, or his designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for this agreement.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cal Humanities
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck