REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve the FY 2022/23 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Grants for the Library Department's Read Santa Clara Program and Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The California State Library's California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) provides an annual grant for ongoing operations of public library adult and family literacy services. The City's Read Santa Clara program qualifies for this grant. Since its inception in 1995, Read Santa Clara has offered one-on-one and small group tutoring to adults through trained volunteer tutors. For FY 2022/23, Read Santa Clara has also qualified for the CLLS award for English as a Second Language Services for adults with limited English-speaking skills.
DISCUSSION
The Santa Clara City Library has been awarded two FY 2022/23 CLSS grants for a total amount of $147,266. These grants are in support of the Library's Read Santa Clara program. The first grant has two components - an award of $59,366 for Adult Literacy services and an award of $32,400 for Family Literacy services. In addition, the Library has been awarded $55,500 for ESL Tutoring services.
The Adult Literacy services component of the grant will enable Read Santa Clara to offer instructional resources and technology training to adult learners seeking to strengthen their basic literacy skills. In addition, the grant will be used to enhance training for the program's volunteer tutors.
The Family Literacy services component of the grant is intended to support activities for parents and children to do together. The program is offered to families of adult learners and families enrolled at six state preschool programs. The grant will be used to fund as-needed staffing, technology assistance programs, books and learning kits for participating families.
The second grant is for new ESL tutoring services that will include small group conversation sess...
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