STAFF REPORT
CITY OF BURBANE
BURBANK
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
DATE: November 1, 2022
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Elizabeth Goldman, Library Services Director Elizabeth dold SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Grant from California Library Literacy Services in the Amount of $27,962 and Amending the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK TO
AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FROM CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY SERVICES (CLLS) IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,962 AND AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 BUDGET BY RECEIVING AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
BACKGROUND
Despite a strong educational system, as many as 19% of American adults are functionally illiterate. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies defines basic, everyday literacy as "understanding, evaluating, using and engaging with written text to participate in society to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential."
In 1986, the California State Library founded California Library Literacy Services (CLLS).
Burbank Public Library (Library) has participated in this program for 30 years, providing support to more than 2,000 individuals ages 16 and older who read below an eighth-grade level. Adults who join the program set goals, such as reading to a grandchild, understanding a medicine bottle label, or filling out a job application. Graduates of the program are better able to participate successfully in professional and personal activities.
Literate adults are much more likely to be employed and less likely to rely heavily on other social services. A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation in 2020 estimated the United States economy could be losing $2.2 trillion annually due to low literacy rates.
Adult literacy services are funded through a combination of an annual grant from CLLS and the General Fund. Local matching funds are a requirement of the CLLS grant.
DISCUSSION
Following disruption caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the Library has been rebuilding the literacy program, which pairs volunteer tutors with literacy learners in an intensive program of one-on-one tutoring. Currently, about two dozen individuals participate, meeting either in person or online. The Library has recently added support for tutors, including opportunities to compare strategies and receive advanced training.
For FY 2022-23, the total grant funding awarded is $27,962. This payment will be made on the following terms: An initial payment providing 90% of approved funds will be issued in November 2022, with the remaining 10% issued after submission of a progress report in early 2023. Annual funding fluctuates based on the State budget and the number of libraries applying for grant funds. To accept the funding, CLLS requires the City to adopt a resolution accepting the grant funds (Attachment 1).
During the annual budget process, Council provided $25,000 in funding as part of the Library budget to allow services to continue year-round prior to receiving the initial payment of the grant funding in November. By authorizing the acceptance of this grant award, Council will be accepting State funding to reimburse that $25,000, in addition to accepting the additional $2,962 provided by CLLS.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is requesting City Council authority to amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Adopted Budget by accepting a grant from the California State Library in the amount of $27,962 and appropriating $2,962 from revenue account no. 001.LB000.48010.1015.00000. 000000. (General Fund, Library Services, Other Intergovernmental Revenues, Literacy) to expenditure account no. 001.LB02A.62625.0000.00000.000000 (General Fund, Library Services, Public Services, Literacy).
CONCLUSION
Accepting the CLLS grant allows the Library to continue offering tutoring for adults with low literacy. Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a grant awarded to Burbank Public Library in the amount of $27,962 from CLLS and amend the FY 2022-23 budget to appropriate $2,962 in designated funds.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: Proposed Resolution authorizing acceptance of the CLLS grant award 2