SR-850-002 (2)
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Iffi 2 9 1988
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council Meeting: 3/29/88
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and city council
FROM: city staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation Authorizing City Manager to Apply for
Funds from the California Literacy campaign for a
Literacy Program in the Library
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the city council authorize the city
Manager to apply for funds from the California Literacy campaign,
administered by the California state Library, for the Library to
establish a literacy program for English-speaking adults to
commence July 1, 1988.
BACKGROUND
city staff described the library's efforts on behalf of adult
literacy in an information item to Council on October 13, 1987.
In that report, staff indicated that they were considering the
feasibility of submitting a federal or state grant in fiscal
1988/89 in order to establish a literacy program in the library.
Library staff has been working closely with literacy and English
As A Second Language providers on the westside, and has
determined that there is currently no English language literacy
program available in Santa Monica, although there are several
English As A Second Language programs, as well as a new Spanish
literacy program at st. Anne's.
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The grant from the state Library will enable the library to
establish the IISanta Monica Reads programll that will recruit and
train volunteers to become literacy tutors. The tutors will
provide one-on-one training to adult learners recruited from the
community. The program will be headquartered at the Main
Library, with tutoring available wherever space can be found
throughout Santa Monica. The project will be staffed by a
literacy coordinator and two assistants hired with grant funds.
The deadline for submittal of the grant application to the state
Library is April 11. On June 1, applicants are to receive
letters indicating their prospects for being funded. On or about
July 1, applicants will receive notice of approved projects &
budgets.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Literacy programs funded by the California Literacy campaign are
eligible for fund allocations over a five year period, as
outlined below:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
75% 100% 100% 75% 50%
We are requesting $125,000 for fiscal 1988/89. This amount
includes all expenditures for equipment, personnel, and site
preparation to get the program set up and functioning. If
approved, we will receive 75%, or $93,750, because the state
Library takes into account that the program will take some
start-up time and will not be in operation for the full year.
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The amounts allocated by the state Library in years 2 & 3 are for
full funding. Starting in year 4, the amount is reduced to 75%,
then 50% in year 5, with no further state funding. It is the
intention of the state Library that the local jurisdiction must
assume fiscal responsibility for the program as it matures, and
that by year 6, the program will have proved of sufficient value
that it will have found outside funding or be absorbed as an
ongoing activity, or dropped if not valuable. One of the
responsibilities of the project coordinator will be to seek
outside funding in anticipation of the loss of state funds.
RECOMMENDATION
staff recommends that the City Council authorize the city Manager
to apply to the California Literacy campaign for a grant
totalling $125,000 for the purpose of establishing a literacy
program in the Library.
prepared by: Carol A. Aronoff
city Librarian
(litgrnt)
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