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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11062007 - C.61 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS `i Costa FROM: Anne Cain, County Librarian s CountyDATE: November 6, 2007 SUBJECT: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Contra Costa County Librarian to Accept a Grant of $70,000 from the Lesher Foundation for a Library at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION (S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Contra Costa County Librarian to accept, and execute an agreement with the Lesher Foundation, a grant in the amount of$70,000 to support the establishment of a library at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility(OAYRF). (All Districts) FINANCIAL IMPACT This is a joint partnership of the Lesher Foundation, the Contra Costa County Library, the Contra Costa County Probation Department and the Contra Costa County Office of Education. Lesher Foundation$70,000 for furniture, books and equipment Contra Costa County Library$57,025 for in-kind staff support Contra Costa County Probation Department$3,960 for library space, maintenance and utilities Contra Costa County Office of Education$4,535 for in-kind automation staff support and in-kind labor—OAYRF youth will construct the shelving for the library BACKGROUND In November 2005, the Board of Supervisors accepted a grant of$100,000 to establish a library at the new Juvenile Hall. In the first ten months since the library's opening day, 1,300 incarcerated teens checked out 13,000 books, and made 1,960 visits to the library. This is a phenomenal rate of reading and library use, much higher than the rate of teens reading at the community public libraries. Teachers at Juvenile Hall have noted that their students sneak books into the classroom so they can read during school. Because they are reading so much in and out of the classroom, their reading level naturally improves as they are exposed to more vocabulary and are essentially "practicing" their reading skills. Probation staff has consistently noted that when residents are reading, their behavior improves. When residents are not fighting or acting out, they are allowed to attend classes and therefore are more likely to succeed in school. And finally, many of the teens themselves have said over and over again that they never read an entire book until they used the library at Juvenile Hall. Many have also said they always thought they hated reading until they discovered all the books that speak to their experiences and involve subjects that are geared towards their interests. These teens often become some of the most avid users of the library. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES SIGNATURE: EC MMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE N�XP'PROVE ❑ OTHER SIGNATURE(S): , ACTION OF BO D N o UQ— o APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED KOTHER ❑ 7NANIMOUS OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY (ABSENTN ��) OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED Contact: Anne Cain,County Librarian JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF HE BOARD OF (925)646-6423 SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: County Library Administration County Administrator County Auditor By ` ,Deputy Joseph A.Ovick,Contra Costa County Office of Education Lionel Chatman,Contra Costa County Probation Officer Kathleen Odne,Lesher Foundation 0:00SIFY 07-081Board OrderslLesher Foundation grant.doc e t i C •b 1 Contra Costa County Library Page 2 Because of these successes, in May of 2007, the Contra Costa County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission granted the Betty Frandsen Library at Juvenile Hall an award for Outstanding Service by a Facility or Institution Program. For many of the teens at OAYRF, their stay at Juvenile Hall was the first tirne that they ever read a whole book or discovered that they liked to read and that there is joy in reading for pleasure. Because of this exposure, they have become aware of the breadth of resources available at a library. Previously, many of them only associated reading with school assignments or had read only what other people required them to read. While at Juvenile Hall, their innate curiosity was sparked by their positive experience of books and reading. With the addition of a library at OAYRF, residents will be able to continue improving their literacy skills and kindling the spark that was ignited by the discovery of all the treasures a library has to offer. In order to succeed upon their release, not only do these youth need strong reading skills, they also need to feel comfortable using a public library. If they can leave OAYRF with the skills to successfully navigate a public library, they will be that much more likely to seek the information they need and continue to develop a lifelong habit of reading. CONTRA COSTA CHTLDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT A library at in Juvenile Hall will foster an interest in reading, encourage independent learning, and stimulate critical thinking skills. This library will provide a starting point for lifelong learning, which plays an important role in the transformation from past lifestyles to a more promising future. This will support the community outcomes of Children Rendu for and Succeeding in School and Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing.for Productive Adulthood OABOSTY 07-081Board Orderslesher Foundation grant.doc