To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: Apply for and Accept Funding from the California State Library for Library Literacy Services for FY 2026 - 2027
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept California State Library grant funding in the amount not to exceed $150,000 to meet the operational and services expenses required by Project Second Chance (PSC), the Contra Costa County Library adult literacy program, to provide adult and family literacy services for the period of July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds committed to Project Second Chance by the Contra Costa County Library, foundation grants, and private donations will be matched by the California State Library using a funding formula that is based on: The State Library’s budget for adult literacy, the number of students served by Project Second Chance, and the total amount of local funding that the Contra Costa County Library certifies will be allocated to support Project Second Chance. For fiscal year 2026/27, the Library has pledged adult and family literacy funds currently budgeted in the amount of $1,192,435 (89% Library fund and 11% California State Library)
BACKGROUND:
Project Second Chance was founded in 1984 with a grant from the California State Library. In 2003, AB 1266 was passed. Article 4.6, Section 18880-18884 of that bill, established the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program and the formula that determines how local funds, generated by individual library jurisdictions, are matched by the California State Library, using funds legislated specifically for this purpose.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Library will not receive California State Library funding for adult or family literacy services, reducing the number of students that can be served.