STAFF REPORT
CITY OF BURBANK
LIBRARY
SERVICES
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Melissa Potter, Interim Library Services Director BY: Cindy Yee Akuin, Senior Administrative Analyst CyA
SUBJECT: Authorization to Accept Grant Funding from California Library Literacy Services in the Amount of $36,715 and Approval to Amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the acceptance of grant funds from California Library Literacy Services in the amount of $36,715 and authorize the Library Services Director or his or her designee to take all actions necessary to receive such funds and amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024- 25 Budget as specified to receive and appropriate the grant funds.
BACKGROUND
In 1986, the California State Library founded California Library Literacy Services (CLLS).
The Library Services Department (Department) has participated in this program for over 30 years, providing support to more than 2,000 individuals ages 16 and older who read below an eighth-grade level. Literacy programs help adult learners gain basic skills, achieve learning goals, build confidence, and utilize other library services. 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.
DISCUSSION
The Department's Adult Literacy Services (ALS) program is well established and consists of volunteer tutors who work one-on-one with qualified individuals to accomplish literacy- related goals. In FY 2023-24, 35 adults participated in nearly 1,000 hours of learning facilitated by 21 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. Tutors are trained to deliver learner-centered instruction by working with each individual to track, acknowledge, and celebrate progress, while also evaluating the program's impact.
Learners define individual goals, allowing them to take ownership of instruction, build confidence, and stay motivated.
ALS is funded in combination by the City General Fund and the CLLS grant. Grant funds provide partial funding for three staff positions (one Librarian and two Library Associates) who manage the grant, screen students, train volunteer tutors, collect data, and coordinate special programming and training opportunities. In addition, this year's grant funding will support:
• Literacy materials for the Library's 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; • Beginner and advanced training sessions for tutors from experts in adult literacy; and
• Supplies required for program operations.
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.
Due to the timing of the grant award funding, the Department allocates General Fund dollars from the budget for the program to continue year-round. As such, during the FY 2024-25 budget process, Council approved $25,000 in funding to allow the ALS program for use prior to initial payment of grant award in November 2024. 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 $11,715 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 Council authority to amend the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget by accepting grant funding from CLLS in the amount of $36,715 and appropriating $11,715 from revenue account no. 001.LB000.48010.1015.00000 (General Fund, Library Services, Other Intergovernmental Revenues, Literacy) to expenditure account no. 2 001.LB02A.62625.0000.00000 (General Fund, Library Services, Public Services, Literacy).
CONCLUSION
Accepting the CLLS grant will allow the Department 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 $36,715 from CLLS and amend the FY 2024-25 budget to appropriate $11,715 in funds.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - California Library Literacy Services 2024-2025 Grant Award:
Award # CLLS24-11
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