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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing September 2019 as Adult Literacy Awareness Month and Solano County Library Literacy Services for 25 years of service to adults in Solano County; and Present three awards, the Beth Shedden Reach Out and Read Award to Beth Shedden and Soroptimist International of Central Solano County, the Diane Robinson Lifelong Learner Award to Diane Robinson, and the Mary Undlin Volunteer Award to Yolanda DeVore and Elaine Pulido, for their dedicated service and support of literacy in Solano County (Chairwoman Hannigan)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Library Services (Library) recommends the Board adopt and present a resolution recognizing September 2019 as Adult Literacy Awareness Month and Solano County Library Literacy Services for 25 years of service to adults in Solano County; and present three awards, the Beth Shedden Reach Out and Read Award to Beth Shedden and Soroptimist International of Central Solano County, the Diane Robinson Lifelong Learner Award to Diane Robinson, and the Mary Undlin Volunteer Award to Yolanda DeVore and Elaine Pulido, for their dedicated service and support of literacy in Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Recognizing September as Adult Literacy Awareness Month helps bring attention to the ongoing need to raise awareness about literacy services in Solano County and help adults receive the tools they need to reach their full potential.
Solano County Library Literacy Services provides free basic literacy, English as a Second Language, Career Online High School diplomas, and Family Literacy activities to adults in Solano County. For 25 years, the program has recruited and trained volunteers to work with adults one-to-one or in small groups to help them reach their educational goals, provided books to pediatric clinics to help healthcare providers train parents on the importance of early literacy, and provided materials and opportunities for families to create a legacy of strong literacy skills.
“Low literacy costs the nation more than two hundred billion dollars each year in lost productivity, as well as an additional one to two billion in health and safety issues,” according to ProLiteracy a national organization to promote and raise literacy awareness. “Every dollar spent on adult literacy and education provides returns to the community through higher employment, added tax revenues, reduced welfare payments, and less crime.”
Solano County Library Adult Literacy Services recognizes that literacy is an integral component of a healthy and productive community and that having the tools needed to communicate successfully with others has a great impact on the ability for an adult to participate fully in their community.
In recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the adult literacy program in Solano County, Solano County Library Literacy Services recognizes the first recipients of three very special perpetual awards. Plaques with the honorees names will hang at the Fairfield Civic Center Library.
The Beth Shedden Reach Out and Read Award recognizes an outstanding volunteer, medical provider or clinic for their efforts on behalf of literacy promotion in Solano County as part of the Reach Out and Read Pediatric Literacy Program.
The inaugural award recognizes Beth Shedden for her support and ongoing promotion of Reach Out and Read and literacy in Solano County for many years. Beth has been a longtime champion of Reach Out and Read and tirelessly works to ensure that children have access to books and are exposed to the joys of reading, and Soroptimist International of Central Solano County for demonstrating the values of literacy promotion and the joy of reading through their consistent financial contributions to the Reach Out and Read Program.
The Diane Robinson Lifelong Learner Award recognizes a literacy student for ongoing dedication to learning. The inaugural recipient of the award is Diane Robinson. Diane continually seeks opportunities to advance her skills. She pays it forward by encouraging and mentoring other students with a positive attitude and consistently takes on leadership roles within the student community ensuring that student voices are heard.
The Mary Undlin Volunteer Award recognizes a volunteer for their work supporting their student(s) and literacy in Solano County by going over and above the duties asked of them, advocating for the learners they help, having an unshakeable belief in their students, giving them confidence and helping them to excel by being kind, positive and patient.
The award is named after Mary Undlin in recognition of the time and energy she devoted to the literacy program. Mary filled many roles within literacy, she was a tutor, volunteer, mentor for others and public advocate for literacy, before her passing.
The recipients of the 2019 Mary Undlin Volunteer Award are Yolanda DeVore and Elaine Pulido.
Yolanda DeVore will be celebrating her 20th anniversary with the literacy program this upcoming year and has at one point or another served in every volunteer or tutor position available in Solano County Library Literacy Services. She is always a resource to her students because she is consistently open to learning new things herself and always does her best to make sure the needs of her students are met. Some of Yolanda’s first students have themselves, taken on student leadership roles in the literacy program.
Tutor Elaine Pulido has been with the literacy program for 12 years. Elaine works to make sure that her students are aware of all of the resources available to them and encourages them to develop skills they need to achieve their goals. She is always willing to answer the call when staff asks her to volunteer in other roles.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with the agenda item and for the purchase of the plaques are included in the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget. The Library is funded entirely through property and sales tax revenue. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the Board’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt this resolution. This is not recommended because acknowledgment of September 2019 as Adult Literacy Awareness Month and recognition of 25 years of adult literacy services provides an opportunity to inform and educate the community about literacy in Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION