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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12022003 - C156 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS .,,,: Com FROM: Anne Cain, County Librarian Caste DATE: October 29, 2003 County SUBJECT: Wilruss Children's Library Trust Report SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: ACCEPT the County Librarian's status report on the Wilruss Children's Library Trust. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Balance in fund at the end of the previous year(6/30/02) $2,421,548 Amount in the fund at the end of the current year(6/30/03) $1,972,745 Amount earned during the current year 42,532 Amount expended during the current year $ 101,335 Amount available for expenditure as of 6/30/03 $ 255,145 The money has been invested by the County Treasurer with interest rate of 1.17%0. BACKGROUND: In 1996, the 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 design and maintenance of programs that promote literacy and a lifelong love of books and reading in socially and economically disadvantaged areas of 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 the 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. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ✓YES SIGNATURE: ✓RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE -'APPROVE _OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ' ACTION OF BPOA ON Dr cad)er 2, 2003 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER` f VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT none ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED ]eller.► 2003 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISbRS AN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Contact: Anne Cain,646-6423 n � BY ,DEPUTY cc: County Library-Administration County Administrator County Auditor 0,ibosWiruss5.doc 10/29/2003 3:38 PM Wilruss Children's Library Trust Report October 29,2003 Page 2 2002.-03 ANNUAL REPORT The following represents the Strategic Initiatives of the Wilruss program. Strategic Initiatives 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 Children Emphasize library education and reading for children under 8 Outreach Develop library programs that take services out into the community Reading/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 Stories To Go Program In 2002-03, 34 Stories To Go volunteers read to over 700 children in 21 preschools. Volunteers provided 850 storytimes, in 1,520 volunteer hours. The program served preschools in Pittsburg, San Pablo, Martinez, and Oakley, and two new classes were added at a Head Start Center in Brentwood this year. In March 2003, all Stories To Go stakeholders were surveyed, including; preschool teachers, parents, library staff at the participating branches, and volunteers. The key findings were as follows: • 98%of respondents said children showed an increased interest in books since the beginning of the school year; • 87%of teachers reported a positive change in the children's behavior during storytimes over the course of the school year; + 55%of families surveyed already use the library; + There is overwhelming support for Stories To Go among all parties surveyed; There is a great interest among teachers and parents in learning more about library programs and services. As a result of the survey, Library orientation sessions for parents will be an added program component in the 2003-04 Program Year. The participating branch libraries of Concord, Pittsburg and San Pablo each received six new kits of materials to be used for storytimes. Pittsburg received an additional six kits purchased with a $1,000 grant from the International Soroptomists of Pittsburg. Three hundred multicultural books were purchased with $3,500 in grant money awarded by First 5 Contra Costa and the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, and will be used to supplement existing storytime materials. Reach Out and Read The Reach Out and Read Program (ROR) is funded by a combination of Federal,';State and local funding. Forty percent of the funding is provided from the Wilruss Trust. ROR serves children from ages six- months to five years, a large segment of the designated age levels the Wilruss Trust was intended to serve (i.e. children under the age of 8). This community outreach program encourages reading by instructing new parents on the importance of sharing and using books with infants and toddlers. This pediatric literacy program consists of three components: assessment and guidance from medical staff, 0Abos\wi1russ5.doc 20/29!2003 3:36 PM Wilruss {Children's Library Trust Report October'29,2003 Page 3 reinforcement of instruction by way of giveaway books over the course of 10 well baby visits, and volunteers in waiting rooms that encourage reading between parents and children and provide information on library locations and programs. Books, materials, and program coordination are provided by the Wilruss Trust. Since the program's inception in November 2001, Reach Out and Read has distributed over 7,000 books to families during clinic visits. Twelve volunteers have been trained to model reading',to families in waiting rooms, and over 900 families have been educated during their well-baby visits. The books selected reflect the culture and language of the families visiting the clinics.' Contra Costa County, along with 15 other communities, received Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding last year to begin new R.OR sites. The Family Practice Clinic ,in Richmond is the new site in Contra Costa County and will launch the program this month, November 2003. Assistance League of Diablo Valley Partnership Wilruss Program staff established a new partnership with the Assistance League of Diablo Valley in 2003. The purpose of this partnership is to increase the library's presence in low income areas by training readers'who will regularly visit schools for read aloud sessions, and provide information on library programs and services. Known as R.E.A.D. (read, enrich, achieve, discover), the service program has over 28 volunteers trainedby the Wilruss staff. The library acquired books valued at $6,000, which will be used in the program and then donated to public schools. Both partners consider this first year a small step in the development of a long-term relationship to foster a love of reading and life-long learning in our community. Long-term Goals for the Wilruss Trust In 2003, the Wilruss Program staff'began developing long-term plans for the program. Surveys were sent to stakeholders of the Stories To Go program, the medical staff of the ROR program and library branch staff involved with these outreach programs. A focus group of community members, involved with service to preschool children, was also convened to provide program input. In the next program year, the Wilruss Program staff will create a five-year plan to enhance or modify existing programs, and set new goals based on the input from the program stakeholders and projected available resources. 0:%bos%wRruss5_doc 1012912063 3:36 PM