TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to accept $15,000 in grant funds from California Council for the Humanities, (Cal Humanities) for the California Reads Searching for Democracy program; increase appropriations in the Special Revenue Fund (SR120) in the Department of Library Services (LS) by $15,000; and execute any documents necessary for the administration of this project. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On October 24, 2011, the City Manager authorized the Department of Library Services to apply for funding through Cal Humanities for the California Reads grant. Notification was received on December 6, 2011 that Cal Humanities awarded a grant of $15,000 to Long Beach Public Library. Long Beach was among 53 library systems awarded to participate in this programming throughout 2012.
The purpose of the California Reads grant is to spark community engagement in conversations about topics of importance to Californians. This grant will provide Library events and services around three titles: A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit; Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston; and It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. This grant will allow residents of this highly diverse city to explore the meaning of democracy through various special events that consist of book discussions, art displays, historical exhibits, lectures, performances, films and author visits.
Examples of such events held include Author in Conversation with Rebecca Solnit, Constitution Café discussion with author Christopher Phillips, and Wherever There’s a Fight: A History of Civil Liberties in California Exhibit. Upcoming events planned will feature authors Jeanne Houston on July 7, 2012 and Dr. Stephanie McCurry on August 4, 2012.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on May 22, 2012 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on May 31, 2012.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 12, 2012, in order to proceed with the Californ...
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