To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: Grant in the amount of $50,000 from Sunlight Giving for Bay Point Library, through June 30, 2025
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $50,000 from Sunlight Giving, a private nonprofit corporation, to provide early literacy interactive panels and kiosks (www.burgeongroup.com) for the new Bay Point Library, for the period November 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Library Fund match.
BACKGROUND:
Sunlight Giving is a private nonprofit corporation based in Palo Alto that grants funding primarily to Bay Area organizations. Their focus is on human services, health, public safety, and community development. One of their giving categories is for safe spaces in community hubs that cater to families. The Library received $75,000 in 2016/2017 to create an Early Literacy Reading Room in the Shields-Reid Community Center in Richmond. The Library received an additional $75,000 in 2017/2018 to create early literacy spaces in 12 Contra Costa County libraries.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the proposal is not approved, the kiosks and interactive panels will not be available in the new Bay Point Library. Children visiting the new Bay Point Library will not be able to take advantage of the fun and educational elements of the kiosks.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Burgeon kiosks and interactive panels meet all five community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card. Research shows that early and positive experiences with books set the stage for a child's success in learning to read. Additionally, literacy skills are a strong predictor of health and employment status. Providing safe, playful, and educational spaces in libraries for young children will encourage regular exposure to reading and books, thus ...
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