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C. 39

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	June 16, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

preserving funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/16/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

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: June 16, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RATIFY the support letter from the Chair of the Board to preserve the federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill, as requested by the Library Commission.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

For the second year in a row, the House Budget committee has proposed the elimination of funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

IMLS funding includes the only federal grant program that is exclusively for libraries, supporting lifelong learning and innovative library programs throughout the nation. This past fiscal year, the Contra Costa County Library received nearly $120,000 in grants from IMLS. In the past, the County has received $72,000 for a youth literacy program, and $121,000 for a library at a juvenile hall.

Patronage of the Contra Costa County Library continues to grow each year (over 4 million visits last year). Services include providing homework assistance to students, helping with job searches and resume writing, and offering computer access for those who might otherwise lack what has become a basic need in today’s society.

With over 1.5 billion library visits a year nationally, it is essential that IMLS and its grant-making capabilities be preserved in the Labor-HHS-Education funding bills so that public libraries can continue to play a critical role in serving their local communities.

The Contra Costa County Library Commission requested a letter from the County to advocate for the preservation of the federal funding. As there is no adopted policy in the Federal Legislative Platform related to library funding, a letter was sent expressing support from the Chair of the Board. (See attachment.) Board policy requires that advocacy letters that express the position of the Chair of the Board be sent to the Board of Supervisors for action on the next available Board of Supervisors' agenda.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Board would not have a position on this funding.