HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11f - $3,100 Donation to Library for purchase of Early Literacy Workstation
DATE: June 4, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director Library & Museum Services
SUBJECT: DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,100 FROM THE ARCADIA
CHINESE ASSOCIATION TO THE ARCADIA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR
THE PURCHASE OF AN EARLY LITERACY WORKSTATION™ FOR
THE JERRY BROADWELL CHILDREN’S ROOM
Recommendation: Accept
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Chinese Association is presenting a gift of $3,100 to the Jerry Broadwell
Children’s Room of the Arcadia Public Library to purchase an earl y literacy workstation
to replace one of the very old GATES computers and provide a quality online,
interactive, educational program station for children ages 2-8. It is recommended that
the City Council accept this donation.
DISCUSSION
The Arcadia Chinese Association has long been a supporter of the Arcadia Public
Library, furthering their mission of supporting Arcadia education, formal and informal.
The Arcadia Chinese Association’s donation of $3,100 would provide for the purchase
of a new Early Literacy W orkstation™ that provides over 70 software titles and more
than 4,000 learning activities to be accessed at the Library. These self-contained
learning activities provide a safe environment for young learners, without the need to
access the Internet directly. The Early Literacy W orkstation™ is aligned to
STEM/STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, math) and correlated
academic standards. It is a high quality workstation as noted as a Platinum Award
Recipient in the 2018 Modern Library Awards from LibraryWorks. The Modern Library
Awards is a review program designed to recognize elite products and services in the
library market that help to enhance the quality of experience for library users . The Early
Literacy Workstation™ is designed specifically for children ages 2-8 and features fun,
interactive, and engaging content that spans math, science, nature, social studies,
geography, reading, art, music, writing, computer skills, and reference. Studies show
that the blended learning into early childhood education can increase literacy, improve
Donation in the amount of $3,100
from the Arcadia Chinese Association
June 4, 2019
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school readiness, and prepare young learners for curriculum based on ST EM/STREAM.
The Early Literacy Workstation™ would replace a very old GATES workstation with
new, up-to-date interactive software that is also aligned with curriculum standards.
This generous donation, presented by the Arcadia Chinese Association to the Arcadia
Public Library, helps the Library and the City of Arcadia provide a higher level of
programs and services beyond the current capacity of the City’s general fund.
All gifts over $1,000 are subject to approval by the City Council pursuant to City Charter
Section 809(d).
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Receipt of this $3,100 donation will provide adequate funding to purchase this Early
Literacy Workstation™ and provide a safe and interactive early childhood learning
experience for the community in a fun and interactive way.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council accept a donation in the amount of $3,100 from the
Arcadia Chinese Association to the Arcadia Public Library for the purchase of an Early
Literacy Workstation™ for the Jerry Broadwell Children’s Room.