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Report regarding a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $6,750 from the Pacific Library Partnership to support the Tumblebooks early literacy online resource at the new Westborough Preschool and amending the Library Department’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.001. (Elizabeth Unisa, Library Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $6,750 from the Pacific Library Partnership to support the Tumblebooks early literacy online resource at the new Westborough Preschool and amending the Library Department’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.001. (Elizabeth Unisa, Library Director)
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City of South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department provides early childhood preschool programs at several sites. The Westborough Preschool Expansion Project is in process and expected to open in 2017. The existing preschool on the property, the Alice Pena Bulos Community Center, has a three-to-four year wait list and doesn’t meet the growing need and requests for additional high quality licensed preschool opportunities in South San Francisco. Current student capacity is 59 children; the Westborough expansion will add an additional 41 spots, serving 100 children, ages 2-5 years old, in five classrooms.
The Library’s Youth Services Program is collaborating with the Parks and Recreation Department to expand online early literacy resources in the new Westborough licensed childcare classrooms by funding subscriptions to the TumbleBook (online) Library. Funds will purchase 10 licenses, providing online access on two computers per classroom. Tumblebooks provides story books, read-alongs, Ebooks, STEM-themed books, skill-building puzzles and games and more via a website interface on classroom computers. This same early literacy platform is also available on South San Francisco Public Library computers and via your library card at home, providing a continuum of early literacy materials in fun, accessible formats from classroom to library to home. Children enjoying online resources can check out many of the same titles during trips to their local library.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds will be used to amend the Library Department’s FY 2025-26 Operating Budget. Receipt of these funds does not commit the City to ongoing funding.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Acceptance of this funding will contribute to the City’s Strategic Plan under Priority #2, Quality of Life, by supporting learning programs.
CONCLUSION
Receipt of these funds will support online literacy resources at the new Westborough Preschool through subscriptions to the TumbleBook Library. It is recommended that the City Council accept $6,750 in funding from the Pacific Library Partnership and amend the Library Department’s FY 2025-26 Operating Budget and approve Budget Amendment Number 26.001.