REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve the FY 2025-26 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Adult and Family Literacy Grant Award for the Read Santa Clara Program and the Related Budget Amendment
Report
BACKGROUND
The California State Library, California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) provides a package of annually funded grants for ongoing operations of Adult and Family Literacy Services. The Santa Clara City Library Department's Read Santa Clara program qualifies for these grants.
In FY 2024-25, Read Santa Clara received $111,897 from CLLS for Adult and Family Literacy Services. This funding allowed the Library to achieve the following outcomes:
* Hold 64 family literacy events at the Library
* Train volunteer tutors, 61 of whom volunteered to serve 99 adult learners
* 70% of adult learners meeting a literacy goal they had set.
For FY 2025-26, the award has been increased by $3,464, for a new total of $115,361.
At their October 6, 2025 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees recommended Council approval and appropriation of these grant funds to support the Read Santa Clara Adult and Family Literacy Services for FY 2025-26.
DISCUSSION
The total grant award amount of $115,361 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 includes two components: Adult Literacy Services and Family Literacy Services. This year's awards are provided using the "block grant" model, allowing libraries more flexibility with how they allocate funds between programs. The "block grant" model allows funds to be transferred between Adult Literacy and Family Literacy services, so long as the minimum allocations are met. The grant award for Read Santa Clara requires that a minimum of 51% of the block grant award ($58,834), be allocated to Adult Literacy Services, and a minimum of 26% of the block grant award ($29,994) be allocated to Family Literacy Services.
The grant funds will be used to help offset costs for part-time as-needed positions and instructional resources including book...
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