Daniell Whittington
Library Manager
April 1, 2026
That the City Council provide direction on
Councilmember Richins' request to expand
the Summer 2026 Lunch at the Library
Program to five days per week.
• Lunch at the Library Grant Program was
created by the California State Library in 2013
• Provides meals to children ages 0-18 during
the summer months while school is closed
• Corona participated in Lunch at the Library
from 2018 – 2021
• Started with 2 days a week and expanded
to 4 days a week
• Grant pays for materials/supplies, stipends,
and programming
• Food provided at no cost via CNUSD lunch
program
• Lunch Program stopped due to COVID and no hot
lunches being provided by CNUSD at the Library
• CNUSD is once again able to provide hot lunches
at the Library
• Staff applied and received grant from the
California State Library to bring hot lunches
back to the Library two days per week
• March 18, 2026 – Councilmember Richins
requested to expand Lunch at the Library to five
days per week
• The Library’s largest and most popular
program – 1,690 participants in 2025
• Includes daily programming for children,
teens, and adults
• Planning begins in November
• Program schedules and staffing
assignments for Summer 2026 already
finalized
• Expanding Lunch at the Library to five
days per week requires canceling or
scaling back SAYL programs due to
staffing and space needs
Monday
• SAYL Kickoff*
• Library on the Go
• Book Clubs
• Volunteer Orientation*
Tuesday
• Adaptive Art Class
• Lunch at the Library
• Guided Story Walk
• DnD Family & Kids
• Maker Open Hours
Wednesday
• Preschool Storytime
• Toddler Storytime
• Library on the Go
• Mini Makers
• Read to a Dog
Thursday
• Preschool Storytime
• Little Ones Storytime
• Lunch at the Library
• Teen Programming
• Book Clubs
• Summer Street Fair*
Programs in ORANGE would need to be cancelled due to staffing and space needs if Lunch at the Library expands to five days per week Friday
• Little Twigs STEM
• Family Maker
Exchange
• Adult Programming
• Finisher's Party*
*Program dates vary
Additional paper goods,
utensils, and other materials
Stipends provided to 4 teens
for their additional time
Optional cost but adds one
more program a week; maintains
consistency with existing Lunch
at the Library Program
CNUSD would provide lunch at the Library three extra days per week at no additional cost to the City
• Additional lunches will be offered by CNUSD at other sites five days per week, including at Section 8 housing complexes, libraries, parks and recreation sites, housing complexes, and more
• Current confirmed lunch site in Corona is El Cerrito Middle School o More sites will be announced by CNUSD in late April
• City of Corona Adventure Camp
• Corona Ranch Elementary
• Coronita Elementary
• Dr. Bernice Todd Elementary
• Foothill Elementary
• Garretson Elementary
• Highland Elementary
• Home Gardens Academy
• John Adams Elementary
• Norco Library
• Prado View Elementary
• Sierra Vista Elementary
• Stallings Elementary
• Vicentia Elementary
• Washington Elementary
Medium
$250
BIG POINT
Detail A
Detail B
Detail C
Pros:
• No summer library
programs are cancelled
• No additional cost to the
City
• Lunch still available at
alternative sites
Cons:
• Patrons will have to go to
other sites for lunch 3
days per week
Pros:
• Patrons will have access
to lunch at the Library 5
days a week
Cons:
• 28 summer programs
cancelled
• Increased program costs
for FY26
• Materials already
purchased
BIG POINT
Detail A
Detail B
Detail C
Pros:
• No summer library programs
are cancelled
• Provides time to apply for
more grant funds, which will
offset additional costs; staff
scheduling
Cons:
• Patrons will have to go to
other sites for lunch 3 days
per week this summer
Keep Lunch at the Library at
two days per week
Keep Lunch at the Library at
two days per week and plan to
expand next year
Expand Lunch at the Library
to five days per week and
scale back SAYL program
That the City Council provide direction on
Council Member Richins' request to expand
the Summer 2026 Lunch at the Library
Program to five days per week.
11 Daniell Whittington
Library Manager
[email protected]