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 books, workbooks and supplies for the Adult and Family Literacy Services. Literacy services will continue to be offered for adult learners and their families online and in-person. In person services include 1:1 and small group tutoring including reading books together, school site visits and family literacy events. Virtual services over Zoom include 1:1 and small group tutoring in addition to specialized programs such as small groups that meet virtually to read newspapers together. In-person literacy services will be held at the Library and at family literacy outreach events in State preschool classes, as well as four school sites: Scott Lane, Montague, Briarwood and Hughes Elementary schools.
The City requires that all grant appropriations be approved by the City Council. Please note, the Board of Library Trustees at its October 6, 2025 meeting voted affirmatively to recommend that the Council take action accepting this grant award.
The CLLS grant requires that the grant awards be deposited in the City’s accounting system and expended by September 30, 2026. Staff will monitor and evaluate any unexpended funds against budget and expenses to ensure requirements are met.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
These grant funds will help offset operational costs of Read Santa Clara’s Adult and Family Literacy Services. To budget the Adult and Family Literacy award of $115,361, staff recommends an increase to the Other Agencies Revenue estimate and the establishment of an Adult & Family Literacy Program FY 2025-26 grant appropriation in the Library Operating Grant Trust Fund, as follows:
Budget Amendment
FY 2025/2026
|
Library Operating Grant Trust Fund |
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Revenue Other Agencies Revenue |
$64,709 |
$115,361 |
$180,070 |
|
Expenditures Adult & Family Literacy Program 25-26 |
$0 |
$115,361 |
$115,361 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Board agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Accept the FY 2025/26 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Grant Award in the Amount of $115,361 for Read Santa Clara, the Library’s Adult and Family Literacy Program; and
2. Approve the FY 2025/26 budget amendment in the Library Operating Grant Trust Fund to recognize grant revenue in the amount of $115,361 and establish an Adult & Family Literacy Program 25-26 grant appropriation in the amount of $115,361 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: Patty Wong, City Librarian
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. FY 2025-26 CLLS Award Letter Read Santa Clara