Title
a. Approve and Authorize the Monterey County Free Libraries Director or his/her Designee to receive $14,000.00 from a grant from Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), to fund and acquire fifty-seven hot spots for a year, to lend to library patrons and the community;
b. Approve and Authorize the Monterey County Free Libraries Director or his/her Designee to enter into a subscription Agreement with Mobile Citizen to provide services to the fifty-seven (57) hot spots, in the amount of $12,103.95, for a full one-year term.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
a. Approve and Authorize the Monterey County Free Libraries Director or his/her Designee to receive $14,000.00 from a grant from Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), to fund and acquire fifty-seven hot spots for a year, to lend to library patrons and the community;
b. Approve and Authorize the Monterey County Free Libraries Director or his/her Designee to enter into a subscription Agreement with Mobile Citizen to provide services to the fifty-seven (57) hot spots, in the amount of $12,103.95, for a full one-year term.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The California State Library offers grants to public libraries across the state in key areas outlined in the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Strategic Plan. During the pandemic, much of this grant funding has been focused on bridging the digital divide, enabling public libraries to rapidly bring a variety of opportunities directly to communities. For example, the California State Library fully funded three years of online Summer Reading Program software (Beanstack), two years of online job preparation services (JobNow), funding for additional ebooks (Crisis Collections), and a substantial amount of training for library staff.
This contract brings another round of grant funding direct to public libraires in the form of hot spots. The grant is for $14,000 and this funding enables Monterey County Free Libraries to acquire and fund 57 hot spots for a year, then lend these to households, all fully funded by grant dollars. The hot spots will be on the T-Mobile network.
Monterey County Free Libraries has a hot spot lending program, with some hot spots on AT&T, checking out to library patrons. Even before the pandemic required so many households to do all work and education online at home, these were continually in circulation with a long waiting list. In addition, Monterey County Free Libraries partnered with the Health Department during the pandemic to be the lending arm for their hot spot grant, arranging cataloging, checkout, tracking, agreements, and return of the hot spots their grant acquired to serve students. This grant has come to its conclusion, and those are being returned to the Health Department now.
This grant enables Monterey County Free Libraries to use a large bulk contract with Mobile Citizen to get the hot spots and service contracts at a price much lower than we currently pay with AT&T. In addition, the spots would come with compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) which is required to spend these funds. We have explored coverage in the County, asking library staff to report in addresses of both branches and homes, checking the coverage map.
The alternative is to pay a higher price with AT&T and manage CIPA compliance on our own. This will not allow us to have as many devices and add more processing and management to the Library’s workload.
We have received a special extension on the agreement, but must approve by June 22 to proceed, or we potentially lose the funds.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The proposed Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form and legality, by Auditor Controller’s Office as to fiscal terms, by Risk Management regarding insurance and indemnification provisions and by the Information Technology Department regarding nonstandard computer technology projects.
FINANCING:
The hot spot and first year of services are fully funded by a Grant from the California State Library. After the first year, the Monterey County Free Libraries can choose to continue services at a level that serves the community and is within the ongoing budgetary resources of the Library Department.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Health and Human Services - This grant opportunity promotes equitable opportunity to fully use online services and resources for communities and households without access to broadband.
Administration - This contract maximizes the impact grant dollars has on services to County residents.
Attachments:
Mobile Citizen Service Subscription Agreement
Mobile Citizen Service Quote
Grant Funding award letter
Prepared by: Jacqueline C. Bleisch, Administrative Services Officer, (831)883-7576
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Approved by: Hillary Theyer, Library Director, (831) 883-7566
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