Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Budget Deal Reached : : Small Adjustment for Libraries Governor Sticks to May Revision Numbers

Budget Deal Reached: Small Adjustment for Libraries
Governor Sticks to May Revision Numbers
CLA News From the Capitol: 6.16.2015 by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This afternoon Governor Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Senate President pro Tem Kevin De Leon held a joint press conference at the State Capitol to announce that they had reopened the negotiations on the 2015-16 Budget and had reached a formal agreement.  Yesterday the State Senate and Assembly both passed this year’s Budget bill by their constitutional deadline of June 15th, but the Budget assumed higher revenue estimates than what the Governor used in his May Revision of the Budget, released in mid-May.

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The library funding was similarly adjusted to reflect the Governor’s May Revision proposal, unfortunately eliminating the $4 million for the California Library Services Act the legislature had included in the Budget, and reducing the broadband connection grants slightly as well.  Here is what we understand will be included for public libraries in this year’s 2015-16 Budget deal agreed to this afternoon:

$6.2 million in NEW funding for public libraries in the 2015-16 Budget bill:
•$2 million in new funding for the state literacy program. 
•$2.5 million in new funding for broadband connection grants for public libraries to join the CENIC high-speed “backbone.”  (an additional $1 million beyond May Revision)
•$225,000 in administration costs to run the broadband program for the public libraries.
•$1 million for the Career Online High School program (Originally not included in May Revision)
•$521,000 for State Library related library preservation activities.

It is believed that the Legislature will vote on the amended Budget bill later this week.  READ MORE !


Redlands Library : : Literacy Program Helps People Gain Skills

Redlands Adult Literacy Program helps people gain skills
Redlands Daily Facts: 6.12.2015 by Dottie Podolak,
coordinator of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program

For the past four years, Diane Shimota has been volunteering at the A.K. Smiley Public Library for the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. She dedicates some of her time each week to help those in the community who struggle with basic reading, writing and technology skills.

Someone has called Shimota the “renaissance woman” of adult literacy. And once you get to know her, it becomes clear that there is truth in that description.

Shimota’s motivation comes from the desire to give back to others and to build relationships with learners in the program. She appreciates seeing that spark in their eyes when they learn something new and describes the experience as priceless.

“Living life without being able to read or use a computer is incredibly stressful,” Shimota said.

“By teaching reading and computer skills to someone, they can approach those things without fear or stress. That is when you see a person bloom with confidence,” she said.

It is this confidence that has allowed Shimota’s learners to achieve their personal goals. One of her learners was able to restart his career and return to school in Los Angeles.

Shimota is now working with two more learners who want to improve their reading and writing skills to realize their dream of passing the test to become United States citizens.

Not only do individual learners benefit from Shimota’s contributions, but also the Redlands Adult Literacy Program as a whole.

“In any multi-faceted program, we rely on key volunteers so that things like technology can take root and grow. Diane Shimota is one of those key volunteers,” said Katherine Gifford, volunteer Adult Literacy coordinator.  READ MORE !

Monday, June 15, 2015

Lunch At The Library : : Summer Meals Program

Lunch at the Library

Lunch at the Library Sites
Lunch at the Library is keeping kids healthy and engaged during the summer months to ensure all kids return to school in the fall ready to learn.

For many children and teens, the stability, nutrition, and education provided by the lunches they receive in the school cafeteria, and the learning opportunities they receive in the classroom, ends when school lets out for summer vacation.

Summer meal programs in public libraries help combat childhood hunger, obesity, and learning loss during the summer months by providing youth with:
•regularly-scheduled, free & healthy meals through USDA Summer Food Service Program
•learning and enrichment programs
•introductions to library services and resources
•teen volunteer opportunities

Through the Lunch at the Library program, the California Library Association and California Summer Meal Coalition provide libraries with the resources and support they need to establish themselves as quality summer meal program sites for their communities.

Library summer meal sites @ SCLLN Member Libraries
•       Camarena Library
•       Chula Vista Public Library
•       Contra Costa County Library
•       Glendale Library
•       Hemet Library
•       Los Angeles Public Library
•       Riverside County Library
•       Riverside Public Library
•       San Bernardino County Library
•       San Bernardino Library
•       San Diego County Library
•       San Diego Public Library

by County

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Anaheim Library :: California Summer Reading Challenge

California Summer Reading Challenge

Public library summer reading programs build communities of readers and library users and help prevent summer learning loss. In 2014, over 700,000 Californians signed up for summer reading and over 1.3 million took part in summer reading activities
.
The California Summer Reading Challenge provides libraries with resources to create innovative summer reading programs that keep California children, teens, and adults reading all summer long.

Help us meet our goal of #onemillionreaders in 2015!

It’s Time for Summer Reading Fun!
Get your groove on this summer and “Read to the Rhythm!”

Anaheim Libraries will be offering reading programs for all ages this summer, with something for everyone to enjoy - stories, music, movies, crafts, books and prizes! As always, Summer Reading Fun for the kids will include themed storytimes and crafts, reading incentives, and energetic programming for all ages.

The benefits of summer reading are clear. National research confirms that students who participate in reading programs over their summer break, scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the school year than those who did not participate.

There will also be reading incentives and special programming for Teens and Adults; including crafts, classic movies, and music events. Check the links in the left column to find out what’s planned at your local branch this month. Sign up at your favorite branch beginning June 15, and don’t miss our “Read to the Rhythm” float in the Anaheim Hills 4th of July Parade!

Friday, June 12, 2015

Send a Quick Email : : Help Save Library Budget Funding

Send a Quick Email : : Help Save Library Budget Funding
by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

As we reported in our “News From the Capitol” yesterday, the 2015-16 State Budget that is scheduled to be taken up for a vote in the Senate and Assembly on Monday, June 15, contains an important level of new funding for public libraries.  However, there is no guarantee that Governor Brown will support a specific portion of the additional funding when he acts on the Budget bill in the coming days, as the Governor is trying to hold the line on increased spending commitments.

CLA is requesting your help!  Please email a quick note to the Governor’s office in support of maintaining the library funding in the state Budget.

Please take a moment today to help protect the library funding that CLA and a large bi-partisan coalition of legislators worked so hard to incorporate into this year’s Budget.  When the Budget bill heads to the Governor’s desk next week, he will have until June 30 to accept or to “blue pencil” various funding line items.

You may email the Governor’s office to express your support for the library funding in the Budget by using the following steps:
1)    Go to www.gov.ca.gov
2)    Click on the red “Contact” tab at the top of the homepage.
3)    Where it indicates- send an email, fill in the bubble: “Have comment.”
4)    Enter your name and email address.
5)    Using the drag-down options, choose:
                “Budget proposal 2015-16” (near the top of the list of options).
6)    Click the button that says, “pro” regarding your position.
7)    Write either:
        a) the text suggested below or
        b) your own version, in the box provided on the Governor’s webpage and           click “submit.”

Suggested text: 

RE:  FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES – 2015-16 BUDGET BILL:  AB 93

Dear Governor Brown,
Thank you for including much needed funding for public libraries in your May Revision of the State Budget.  The funding you have identified for literacy and broadband connections will be extremely valuable to public libraries throughout the state.  As you prepare to review the Budget bill that is being sent to your desk, I would also like to request your support for the additional funding for the public libraries that was approved as part of the “Conference Committee Compromise.”

The additional $2.5 million for broadband connection grants will expedite high-speed broadband connectivity for a significant amount of library branches and the $4 million for the California Library Services Act will help to reimburse libraries for their willingness to share books and materials among each other – ensuring an equity of access for all California library patrons.

Thank you for your consideration of these matters as you are reviewing the Budget bill in the coming days. 

Sincerely,
Name
(Library, group, etc.) 

Note: 
If you would rather phone the Governor’s office, you may do so at (916) 445-2841 and you may choose the prompt #4 where you will speak to a representative.  That representative will log your comments.

If you would rather fax a letter to the Governor’s office, you may do so at (916) 558-3160.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Altadena Library :: California Summer Reading Challenge : :

California Summer Reading Challenge

Public library summer reading programs build communities of readers and library users and help prevent summer learning loss. In 2014, over 700,000 Californians signed up for summer reading and over 1.3 million took part in summer reading activities.

The California Summer Reading Challenge provides libraries with resources to create innovative summer reading programs that keep California children, teens, and adults reading all summer long.

Help us meet our goal of #onemillionreaders in 2015!

kicks off its annual 2015 Summer Reading Program!
Read To The Rhythm !

Adults, teens, and children. There's something for everyone this summer!  Click here for a printable version of our 2015 Summer Reading Program Booklet.

CHILDRENS
 Children age 12 and
 Read books or have books read to you.
 Come to the library, attend a special event for a chance to win additional prizes.
*30 pages or 15 minutes = 1 children’s picture book or easy reader
100 pages or 1 hour = 1 children’s chapter book
200 pages or 2 hours = 1 teen book

TEENS
 Open to teens entering grades 7-12
 Read books of your choice! Yes, manga and comics count!
 Join 5 book challenge earn a free book and be automatically entered into grand prize raffle!
 Win prizes by completing different weekly challenges and attending programs
 The last day to complete the 5 book challenge is July 29th

ADULT
 All adults aged 18 and over are invited to participate
 Complete reading logs by July 31, 2015 - be entered  for a chance to win this year’s grand prize: a NOOK eReader!
 Sleeveface/ #Bookface
photo contest: Take a picture of yourself with a record sleeve or book cover obscuring or augmenting any part of your body, creating an illusion. There will be a special prize awarded at the finale to each of the participants with the best bookface and sleeveface photographs submitted. Submissions will be accepted at the main Reference Desk in person or by email to sim@altadenalibrary.org until 5 p.m., July 31, 2015.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

National & International Literacy & Library Events : : June 2015

National & International Literacy & Library Events: June 2015

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- Local, California and National -
the Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

Children: Every Hero Has A Story! Teens: Unmask! Adult: Escape the Ordinary!


June 3+ Canadian Library Association Conference, Ottawa
June 4   “First Among Many: Bay Psalm Book and Early Moments in American Printing”
June 8+ Health Literacy Leadership Institute: Tufts Univ School of Medicine, Boston MA
June 12+ 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conf: Manhattan College, Riverdale NY
June 14+ National History Day Contest: University of Maryland
June 18+ Children’s Literature Assoc Conference: Richmond VA
June 19   Summer Learning Day
June 24+ Urban Libraries Council Forum: San Jose CA
June 25   Book Summit 2015: The Story at the Centre, Toronto
June 25+ American Library Association, San Francisco CA
June 26+ Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland-Morgan Library & Museum, NY NY
June 27   Autism Sensory Friendly Films - INSIDE OUT 10a