AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date:           September 13, 2010

From:                          Lucy B. Gangone, Library Director

Subject:                      Resolution authorizing the Library Department to apply for and accept, if awarded, a matching grant from ALTAFF of $500.00 for the Books for Babies Program

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the Library Department to apply for and accept, if awarded, a matching grant from ALTAFF of $500.00 for the Books for Babies Program.

Analysis:

This program is sponsored by ALTAFF (Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations) to support early literacy efforts.  The grant will enable the Leesburg Public Library to purchase and distribute kits to parents of newborns that encourage the parents to read aloud to their babies.  By reading to their babies and by becoming regular library users themselves, parents’ help their babies develop language skills and start them on the path to success in reading and learning.  The library will work with the Leesburg Community Health Center to distribute the kits to parents of infants. Each kit contains a board book, an application for a library card, brochures & booklets with reading tips, information about the library including a schedule of children’s programs, a bib with the Books for Babies logo, and a coupon to redeem a prize from the library. The return of the completed application for a library card and/or the redemption of the incentive coupon will allow library staff to measure the kit’s effectiveness in attracting parents to the library.  

Options:

1.  Approve the resolution authorizing the Library Department to submit a grant application to ALTAFF, or

2.  Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact: 

The cost to purchase one hundred and seventy-five (175) kits is $1,575.00.  The amount of $1,075.00 was approved by the Executive Board of the Friends of the Leesburg Library at its May 11, 2010 meeting to purchase Books for Babies kits.  The grant amount of $500.00 from ALTAFF will cover the balance.

Submission Date and Time:    9/16/2010 12:11 PM____

Department: ______________________ Prepared by:  ______________________                       Attachments:         Yes____   No ______ Advertised:   ____Not Required ______ Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____ _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. _____JB___________                                    Deputy C.M. ___________________                                           Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. _________________ Project No. ___________________ WF No. ______________________ Budget  ______________________ Available _____________________

RESOLUTION NO._______________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG AUTHORIZING THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT, IF AWARDED, A MATCHING GRANT FROM ALTAFF OF $500.00 FOR THE BOOKS FOR BABIES PROGRAM; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

            THAT the Library Department is hereby authorized to apply and accept, if awarded a grant from ALTAFF, whose address is 109 South 13^th Street, Suite 3-N, Philadelphia, PA 19107, for the Books for Babies Program.

 THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the __13th___ day of _September________ 2010.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________________

City Clerk