Title
Library Department recommending the Board:
1) Accept the Books for All Grant award 40-9402 from the California State Library in the amount of $30,000 for the purchase and acquisition of eBooks; and
2) Delegate authority to the Library Director to execute the Grant Agreement and all grant-related documents, including all associated documents necessary to secure grant funds that do not increase the Net County Cost and implement the approved grant program.
FUNDING: 83.3% California State Library Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant Program, 16.7% Friends of the Library Book donation.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California State Library, in partnership with the Black Gold Cooperative Library System, has launched eBooks for All California. Created to equalize access across California, this statewide collection can be accessed by anyone with a California public library card and an internet connection. This collection, currently consisting of over 87,000 copies of over 30,000 titles, is designed to meet the educational, recreational, and informational reading needs of California’s diverse communities. All titles are on a perpetual license, and many are licensed for simultaneous use (everyone may read the same book at the same time). The collection is available to all public libraries to provide for free to readers of all ages. Libraries can access the collection through The Palace Project App, an eReader aggregator that can browse and display materials from Overdrive, Cloud Library, and other similar services, and is available on our El Dorado Library website.
The eBooks for The Palace Project not only include materials inside the app, but it also includes a geo located collection of materials that are all licensed for simultaneous use to anyone inside of California, with or without a library card. All eBooks purchased with this grant will be available for simultaneous use to every person with a valid library in the state of California. El Dorado County residents will also be granted access to all other eBooks purchased by other grant award recipients within the eBooks for All Palace Project.
The total cost of this project is $36,000. The grant requires a $6,000 match that will come from the Friends of the Library donation fund. The grant will supply the reminder of the $30,000.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
None
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline the grant and eBooks would not be purchased.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
none
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Friends of the Library donation fund is paying the County required match of $6,000. No increase to the Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
None
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Carolyn Brooks, Director of Library Services, X5546