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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2d - Donations to the Library for Children's Summer Reading ProgramV~ � GPLIFORNf 9��f _ a ❑--p..... a glue 5, 903 "'°ntty °f STAFF REPORT Library and Museum Services Department DATE: September 17, 2013 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Mary Beth Hayes, Director of Library and Museum Services By: Darlene Bradley, Library Services Manager SUBJECT: ACCEPT DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT THE LIBRARY Recommendation: Accept SUMMARY Forty -four community donors gave a total cash donation of $2,900 and a variety of coupons for prizes for the 2013 Children's Summer Reading Program. DISCUSSION The Library's Summer Reading Program for children was once again very successful. 1087 children and 822 tweens participated in the program with a total of 27,859 hours read during these six weeks. With the theme "Reading is So Delicious ", younger children were encouraged to be read to aloud by their parents, caregivers, or older siblings. Older children were encouraged to read on their own with everyone reporting their weekly progress on the new online software, Evanced Solutions. The children were rewarded with a weekly prize to encourage them to continue reading. Although major funding is provided by the Friends of the Arcadia Public Library, additional prizes and funds are solicited from community businesses and organizations to provide additional support as well as to foster community involvement and awareness of this important literacy -based program. Items received this year included gift certificates for free children's meals and gift cards for meals at local restaurants, passes to a variety of entertainment venues, and gift cards from a number of merchants. These gifts help provide an exciting mix of prizes for the participants and the Library is pleased to have the broad involvement of the community in encouraging its children to read. Cash gifts totaling $2,900 were also received and much of these funds were used to purchase additional materials and supplies, which help staff to enhance Donations — Library Summer Reading Program September 17, 2013 Page 2 of 3 programming. Donors are recognized for their contributions with a letter and placard that they can put on display at their place of business showing that they are proud sponsors of the Arcadia Public Library Summer Reading Program. Donor names are also recognized on a poster placed prominently in the Jerry Broadwell Children's Room and on the Library's website. Community sponsors included the following businesses and associations: 3 -M Hot Dog on a Stick 41 Olive Joe Ferrante Music Academy Advantage Ford Lincoln Jumpin' Jammin Adventure City KidsArt AMF Bowling Lanes Kidspace Museum Angels Baseball Legoland Applebee's Restaurant Los Angeles Dodgers Aquarium of the Pacific Marie Callender's Arcadia Association of Realtors Old Spaghetti Factory *Arcadia Chinese Association Olive Garden *Arcadia Friends of the Library Pacific Asia Museum Arcadia Partners In Rotary Pasadena Ice Skating Center Arcadia Rock Climbing Ralph's Auntie Anne's Pretzels Red Robin BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse Robek's Juice California Pizza Kitchen Round Table Pizza Cheesecake Factory Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill Chuck E. Cheese's Souplantation Coldstone Creamery Teri & Yaki Coco's Bakery Restaurant Togo's CVS Pharmacy Vroman's Bookstore Dave & Busters Wetzel's Pretzels Golf `N' Stuff Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill Hometown Buffet *These two groups gave cash donations not included here. There were separately acknowledged in a previous staff report. All gifts to the Library are subject to approval by the City Council pursuant to City Charter Article VI I I Section 809(d). FISCAL IMPACT The Summer Reading Program is funded through generous donations from the Friends of the Arcadia Public Library, the Arcadia Chinese Association and many additional community sponsors. Donations — Library Summer Reading Program September 17, 2013 Page 3 of 3 The City provides funding for staff salaries but the Children's Summer Reading Program costs for materials, supplies, programming, performers, performers, and incentives are exclusively based on donations from support groups and the community. The Children's Summer Reading Program costs approximately $14,800 each year, which averages $7.70 per child. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council accept donations from the Community in support of the Children's Summer Reading Program at the Library. Approved_ Dominic Laz�arett� City Manager