TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with the California State Library, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $42,000 for Library Literacy Services; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Library Services Department by $42,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Library Services Department’s application to the California State Library for a Shared Vision Community Partnership Grant for Out of School Time Programs was approved, allowing the Department to launch a Young Readers Club in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 20) and FY 21 with funding from the State to create a staff and teen volunteer training program with a reading curriculum, and purchase the books and supplies needed to run the program.
The Young Readers Club consists of a small group of first grade students partnered with a Learning Guide and teen volunteer for 90 minutes of shared reading, skills building, reading comprehension, and book-themed projects. Young readers will gain reading practice, motivation, and confidence in reading aloud. Students will read books with socio-emotional themes to encourage group discussions around self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making. The teen volunteers will participate in a Youth Empowerment Summit and will receive read-aloud training while improving their programming, mentoring, public speaking, and social skills.
The Library has identified five sites (Billie Jean King, Burnett, Harte, Mark Twain, and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Libraries) for this project. These libraries are located in north, central, and southwest Long Beach. These areas have higher than average proportions of low-income households and the highest percentage of youth. These neighborhoods have also been identified as areas of great need that experience disproportionately high rates of poverty, crime, unemployment, and other risks factors in comparison to the rest of the city. The poverty rate in these neighborhoods is 41.8 percent- double the city average of 20.7 percent. In Long Beach, nearly half (48 percent) of all elementary students perform below grade level, with those numbers disproportionately affecting children of color.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on June 15, 2020 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 19, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on July 7, 2020, to receive and encumber and/or expend grant funding by August 1, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT
As the grant funding is unbudgeted, an appropriation increase in the amount of $42,000 is requested in the General Grants Fund Group in the Library Services Department, offset by grant revenue. The grant has no required match or in-kind service mandate. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GLENDA WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER