To: Board of Supervisors
From: Alison McKee, County Librarian
Report Title: Contract with Penguin Random House LLC for author talk services by Percival Everett on November 8, 2025.
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RESCIND the Board Action of September 9, 2025, which authorized the County Librarian, or designee, to execute a contract with Penguin Random House, LLC in an amount not to exceed $35,000 for an author talk and book signing by Percival Everett at the Read Contra Costa program on November 8, 2025.
RATIFY the execution, by the Deputy County Librarian, of a contract with Penguin Random House, LLC, dated September 10, 2025, in an amount of $38,000 for author talk and book signing services by Percival Everett at the Read Contra Costa program on November 8, 2025."
FISCAL IMPACT:
$18,000 Library Fund; $10,000 Los Medanos College; $5,000 Library Foundation of Contra Costa; $5,000 Richmond Public Library Foundation.
BACKGROUND:
On September 9, 2025, the Board gave authorization for a contract with Penguin Random House LLC in the amount of $35,000. The Library requests, instead, that the Board approve the amount of $38,000 to include reimbursement for travel accommodations included in the contract, but not included in the Staff Report.
Read Contra Costa is an annual event that encourages all county residents and library users to share in the experience of reading and discussing the same book. This year's program runs from Tuesday, September 2 through Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The culminating event is a two-hour session with Percival Everett at Los Medanos College on Saturday, November 8th at 11:00 a.m. He will give a 40-minute talk followed by a 20-minute Q&A session. Mr. Everett will sign books for an hour after the talk.
This year, the Contra Costa County Library is proud to partner with the Richmond Public Library, Los Medanos College, Diablo Valley College, and Contra Costa College to b...
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