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LIBRARY
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) AGREEMENT - Request approval and authorization for the County Librarian to accept grant funding in the amount of $35,400 and sign the agreement with the California State Library for purpose of Lunch at the Library to support pop-up library programs at community-based meal sites, and provide books to help children build home libraries, effective upon execution of the Agreement and shall terminate on 1/31/26
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Financial Impact:
The Library’s FY 25/26 Adopted Budget reflects an increase of $35,400 in both revenue and expense to reflect the grant award amount. There is no local funding match. Funds may be used for consumable materials; longer-life purchases such as portable shade structures and seating; educational toys and activities; books to help children build home libraries; and temporary/extra help staff to support grant activities.
Background Information:
Lunch at the Library funds have been received in the past, most recently with funds carried over into FY2022-23 for activities performed in Summer 2023. The California State Library (CSL) has identified Tehama County as high-need for continued Lunch at the Library funding, based on the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
CSL has been in contact with the County Librarian for several months, encouraging renewed participation in Lunch at the Library. Due to staffing shortages and an inability to find a local school district with the capacity to partner with the library as a meal provider, a request to accept funds has not been brought forward to the Board. In recent discussions with CSL staff, modifications to how Lunch at the Library could be utilized were presented, along with the ability to extend the term of the grant to allow sufficient time to perform required activities.
In the ideal scenario, a local school district would provide grab-and-go lunches to be distributed at each library site during each open day, encouraging youth ages 0-18 to visit the library for enrichment activities and resources, and providing an additional meal distribution site for local youth. The CSL’s current proposal is that Tehama County Library utilize Lunch at the Library funds to purchase materials that would allow for pop-up library programming at locations where local school districts are already providing summertime lunches in order to support literacy and educational activities; and with a timeline extension, to build relationships that could allow year-round pop-up programming in communities without a library branch, such as Rancho Tehama. Corning Union Elementary School District has extended an invitation for the library to provide pop-up programming at their meal distribution sites in Corning and Rancho Tehama, and if the Board approves acceptance of these funds, additional districts will be contacted in order to distribute resources throughout the county.
Pop-up programming would replicate weekly story times already held in each branch, allowing materials to be purchased from grant funds. Additionally, these funds may be used to purchase books to help children build home libraries, which was the primary use during the last round of accepted funding, and may be used for temporary/extra help hires.
If accepted, CSL staff have indicated that an extension may be requested to allow time to meet program goals and fully expend funds.