Agenda

Return

C. 46

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Alison McKee, County Librarian
Date:	December 7, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Sunlight Giving Grant

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 12/07/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Liz Fuller, 925-261-1664

I 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.
ATTESTED: December 7, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $75,000 from Sunlight Giving, a private nonprofit corporation, to provide early literacy interactive panels and kiosks (www.burgeongroup.com) to libraries in impacted communities in Contra Costa County, for the period November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Total annual Library contribution is estimated to be $58,000 for additional pieces of Burgeon products.

BACKGROUND:

Sunlight Giving is a private nonprofit corportation 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.

The Library will use Sunlight Giving funds to purchase Burgeon (https://www.burgeongroup.com) interactive kiosks for five libraries in impacted communities, including Antioch, Concord, El Cerrito, Pinole and San Pablo, as well as additional interactive panels for the kiosks. Smaller libraries unable to accommodate the large kiosks will receive interactive panels to place on shelving end panels. These include libraries in Crockett, El Sobrante, Hercules, Martinez, and Pittsburg. The kiosks provide many early learning opportunities for young children, with panels designed to engage children in activities that improve fine motor skills and brain development. Having these available will maximize the library as a safe place, and bring families into the library to learn and grow.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the proposal is not approved, the kiosks and interactive panels will not be available in libraries in impacted communities. Children visiting the library will not be exposed to 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 improving the quality of life for children and families in impacted communities.