1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: November 14, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Elizabeth Goldman, Library Services Director
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Grant from California Library Literacy Services in the Amount of $31,447 and Amendment of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget
RECOMMENDATION
Accept a grant from California Library Literacy Services in the amount of $ 31,447 and authorize the Library Services Director or her designee to take all actions necessary to receive such funds and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Budget as specified to receive and appropriate these grant funds.
BACKGROUND
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.
As of 2023, the Library is receiving two streams of funding from CLLS: A grant for English as a Second Language services, which was accepted by Council on September 12, 2023, and a grant for adult literacy services, which is being presented today.
DISCUSSION
The Library’s Adult Literacy Services program is well established and consists of volunteer tutors who work one- on-one with qualified individuals to accomplish literacy -
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2 related goals. In FY 2022-23, 28 adults participated in more than 1,000 hours of learning facilitated by 20 tutors. Learners range in age from under 18 to over 70, and several have less than a high school education. The Library works with other City departments, the Burbank Adult School, and local nonprofits to attract both learners and tutors.
Adult Literacy Services is supported both by the City General Fund and the C LLS grant.
Grant funds provide partial funding for three staff positions – one Librarian and two Library Associates – who manage the grant, screen students, train tutors, collect data, and coordinate special programming and training opportunities. In addit ion, this year’s grant will fund:
• Literacy materials for the Library collection, specifically titles that would interest adults but use simple language and grammar, called hi-lo books; • Curriculum materials for use by learners and tutors in their sessions; • Beginning and advanced training sessions for tutors from experts in adult literacy; • Supplies required for program operation.
Staff coordinate regular reporting on grant activities as required by CLLS and participate in networking and training opportunities offered by CLLS to ensure best practices are being applied in Burbank.
During the annual budget process, Council provided $25,000 in funding as part of the Library budget to allow services to conti nue 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 $6,447 provided by CLLS.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is requesting City Council authority to amend theFY 2023-24 Adopted Budget by accepting a grant from CLLS in the amount of $31,447 and appropriating $6,447 from revenue account no. 001.LB000.48010.1015.00000 (General Fund, Library Services, Other Intergovernmental Revenues, Literacy) to expenditure account no. 001.LB02A.62625.0000.00000 (General Fund, Library Services, Public Services, Literacy).
3 CONCLUSION
Accepting the CLLS grant allows the Library to continue to offer services to adult learners who read below an eighth-grade level , helping them build skills to succeed . Staff recommends that the Council accept the grant awarded to the Library in the amount of $31,447 from CLLS and amend the FY 2023-24 budget to appropriate $6,447 in funds.
ATTACHMENTS
None.