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Supervisor Frentzen recommending the Board join her in recognition of Jeanne Amos, Library Director, as the recipient of the CalPERS 2017 Spotlight on Excellence Award. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an exemplary public agency, program, or employee.
Award recipients of the CalPERS Spotlight on Excellence:
1) Exhibit the spirit of what it means to be of service to the public;
2) Serve as a model other agencies or employees can follow; and
3) Have a proven record of building community success. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
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BACKGROUND
CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund, managing pension and health benefits for more than 1.7 million California public employees, retirees and their families. The Spotlight on Excellence award was created to recognize exemplary public agencies, schools, programs, groups, or individuals for their innovation and excellence in public service.
Each year, CalPERS recognizes only one recipient among its 3,100 member agencies to receive the Spotlight on Excellence award. Nominees must exhibit the spirit of what it means to be of service to the public, have a proven record of building community success, and serving as a model that other agencies can follow.
HIGHLIGHTS
Under the leadership of Jeanne Amos, the El Dorado County Library has been recognized as an early literacy leader, locally and statewide, for their innovative programming, resources and service delivery models. Her highly skilled team builds upon research-based programming to create an environment that is family friendly and intentional in its approach. Libraries have reached beyond their doors to share their expertise with medical offices, schools, preschools and other child care providers in the County. El Dorado County Libraries have received Early Learning and Education Certificates of Recognition from the State Senate and Legislature, as well as from the California State Librarian in 2015. Recognized in California in 2013, families in El Dorado County had the highest percentage of reading to young children each day in the state (79%).
Jeanne Amos emphasizes the strengths of libraries: accessibility, adaptability, technology hubs, staff with specialized training, embracing families, understanding children and engaging the community. Building upon this strong foundation, Jeanne has re-envisioned and renewed the value of public libraries in El Dorado County. Over 100,000 citizens in El Dorado County have active library cards, visit our libraries over half a million times a year, and checkout over 800,000 items per year, in person and online. Over 6,000 El Dorado County students have Digital Access library cards and are able to access online library resources from school and home, ensuring the libraries are valuable educational partners.
Jeanne Amos has validated the important role libraries play in our community and envisioned their role as Community Hubs in our county. Community Hubs are where families are healthy, caring, learning and growing. In partnership with the County Office of Education, Health and Human Services and the local First 5 Commission, Libraries have been transformed by offering groups, activities and classes for expectant parents and children birth through 18 years of age supported by a team of family engagement, literacy and health specialists. The objective, to build resiliency through collaborative, community based prevention and early intervention services. Other counties, states, and countries are using El Dorado County Libraries as a model for their efforts in these areas.
Jeanne Amos embraced the addition of the El Dorado County Museum to her department in 2008, acting as a champion and advocate. She provides direction and support for many new Museum programs such as: an updated Museum website and Facebook page, facilities improvements, exhibits, and special programs including Mini Miner’s Day in 2016 and the Museum’s first Open House in 2015. She was also instrumental in the development of the El Dorado Western Railroad.
Jeanne Amos has instituted financial efficiencies that maximize dollars and reduce expenditures throughout her department, and, recognizing the power of partnerships, has leveraged over $2 million in partnership and grant funding in the last decade. This includes State Library funding to install Cenic Broadband, bringing high speed internet service to all of our libraries (including our most rural branches), matching funding for our Early Childhood Literacy Specialists, and grants and gifts for developing innovative technology such as 3d Printers, Virtual Technology and an online eBook library.
Jeanne Amos refuses all accolades for herself and instead always defers recognition and praise to her staff, she is a highly accomplished and beloved Library Director, working unceasingly for over three decades to build a legacy for El Dorado County that includes the construction of two beautiful libraries in Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills and the purchase of a Bookmobile. El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Georgetown and South Lake Tahoe libraries all have current library parcel taxes that demonstrate the level of commitment for library support by their communities, fostered and nurtured by Jeanne Amos.