HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02231999 - SD2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Anne Cain, Acting County Librarian
GATE: February 11, 1999
SUBJECT: Wilruss Children's Library Trust Annual Report FY 97-98
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)& BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
ACCEPT the Contra Costa County Library Wilruss Children's Library Trust Annual Report FY 97-98.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Amount in the fund at the end of the previous year(5/317/97): $1,765,166
Amount in the fund at the end of the current year (6/30/98): $1,851,726
Amount earned during the current year: $ 89,381
Amount expended during the current year: $ 2,821
Amount available for expenditure: $ 144,126
The money has been invested by the County Treasurer with interest rates varying from 5.34%to 5.75%.
BACKGROUND:
In April 1996, the County Library was advised that it had been named to receive the proceeds from the .
Storm's Living Trust, valued at $1,707,600, which had been established by Mrs. Wilma Storms. Conditions
of the trust require that all proceeds from the trust be placed in a new trust fund (the Wilruss Children's
Library Trust) for the benefit of library services to children in Contra Costa County. Terms of the trust
authorize the County Librarian to expend earnings from the trust each year and to carry over any unspent
earnings from prior years. In no case is the principal amount to be invaded, other than to pay approved
claims against the Storms Living Trust. There is also a provision for an annual reporting to the Board of
Supervisors on the Wilruss Children's Library Trust.
The Library provided a status report to the Board of Supervisors on March 4, 1998. At that time, the Library
had completed a planning process during which library staff met with representatives of over 30
organizations and agencies serving children throughout Contra Costa County and conducted 12 focus
groups. The planning process resulted in the development of the following mission statement, seven
strategic initiatives and three specific programs:
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES SIGNATURE: s �
RECOMMENDATIONOtw COUNTYADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON February 23 , 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED g OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS:
€ HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
XX UNANIMOUS(ABSENT _ -� ) ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
AYES: NOES:
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Contact: Anne Cain,Acting County Librarian 646-6423 ATTESTED --_ F e b r u a r y--2„3, 1.999
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: County Library SU OERVISORSAND POUTY ADMINISTRA OR
County Administrator t
Joyce B.EIAs,Trustee Storms Living Trust By ,Deputy
76
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The Wilruss Children's Library Trust gives the Contra Costa County Library an opportunity to create an
exciting approach to library services for children and their families. We serve communities that are
culturally, linguistically and economically diverse. Communities everywhere tell us that children and
families need easier access to library services and that excellent education for children is a high priority.
The library is committed to delivering services to children and families out in the community. We will help
children succeed by raising awareness of the library's potential to transform people's lives, by promoting
reading and family literacy, by forging partnerships, and by continuing to respond to the changing needs of
our diverse county.
� r it In
Diversity Reflect the cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of our communities in the
service we provide
Partnerships Build partnerships that will advance mutual goals
Involve Adults Actively involve parents and caregivers in the implementation of our programs
for children and adults
Target young Emphasize services for children under 8
Children
Outreach Develop programs that take services out into the community
Leading/Family Promote reading, family literacy and the educational role of the library
Literacy/Education
Public Relations Increase the public's awareness of the library's importance in the lives of young
children
Three specific service programs that will enable the library to carry out these strategic initiatives have been
developed:
Library Outreach Library outreach takes library services offsite to targeted populations in the
community such as daycare centers and preschools, shelters and health
centers.
Stories to Go Trained volunteers will provide storytimes in community locations such as
preschools, clinics, churches, and daycare centers. Thematic kits will be
created which contain books, puppets, music, flannel boards, costumes and
other props.
Parent Education The library will form partnerships with parents, supporting them as they nurture
children's literacy and education. The library will develop a curriculum and
presentations, schedule presentations, disseminate information and provide
recreational and cultural offerings suitable for children and families.
In Larch, 1998 the Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of a position of Library Specialist and
in September, 1998, the Library hired Maureen Kilmurray to fill this position. The Library Specialist is
responsible for the initial implementation and expansion of the program, community outreach, training of
library staff and volunteers, developing partnerships with community organizations and providing overall
coordination of the program.
As a result of the planning process, it was decided to target three communities - Pittsburg/Bay Point,
Concord and San Pablo - for early implementation of the Wilruss programs and to spread these programs
to other parts of the County as appropriate. The Library's Wilruss Steering Committee meets monthly and
has initially focused its efforts on developing the Stories To Go Program. The committee has developed
21 Story Kits which have been available to the community volunteers since January 15, 1998. The
Wilruss coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator have launched a volunteer recruiting campaign which
included press releases to local papers, and visits to senior centers and community groups to speak about
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the volunteer opportunities with the Stories To Co program . The Wilruss Coordinator and the children's
librarians have conducted interviews and site visits to child care facilities in the three target cities of San
Pablo, Pittsburg/Say Point and Concord .
Each volunteer received 6 hours of training and training was conducted in all three target communities.
Approximately 25 volunteers have been trained. For the training a video and a Power Point presentation,
as well as extensive training materials; were developed. The Wilruss Coordinator and the Volunteer
Coordinator have spoken to many community groups and senior centers to promote the program, seek
volunteers and obtain donations toward the purchase of additional Story Kits.
Staff prescreened and interviewed about two dozen child care facilities, identifying the most needy and
economically disadvantaged to participate in the pilot phase of our outreach efforts. All are serving
ethnically diverse children and their parents who have little or no opportunity to visit the library or
participate in its programs. In the second phase of outreach staff plan to do parent workshops that
introduce parents to the library and focus on the importance of reading to their children at an early age.
CONTRA COSTA CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
1. Children Ready for and Succeeding in School:
The Wilruss Children's Outreach program promotes "reading readiness" in preschool children.
Strong reading skills have been clearly linked to academic performance.
2. Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood:
Research clearly demonstrates that children who read, not only perform better in school as
students, but grow up to be life-long learners.
3. Families that are Economically Self Sufficient:
The parent education component of the Wilruss program introduces families to the library,
including the library's job resources. This can contribute to economic self-sufficiency.
4. Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing:
The parent education component of the Wilruss Program encourages parents to read with and
to their children and thus creates a nurturing and bonding family experience.
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