Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2019-086 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, accepting a donation in the amount of $23,690 from Broward Public Library Foundation, Inc., through an endowment from the Albert Jacobs and Ann Jacobs Trust, to be deposited into the Broward County Library Trust Fund; authorizing expenditure of these funds to fund a staff position to enhance the Literacy Help Center at the County’s Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch Library; authorizing the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions to implement acceptance; and providing for severability and an effective date. (Commission District 9)

ACTION:  (T-10:33 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  8-0.  Commissioner Geller was not present.

B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2019-087 within the General Trust to appropriate revenue in the amount of $23,690 for the purpose of funding a staff position to enhance the Literacy Help Center at the County’s Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch Library.

ACTION:  (T-10:33 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  8-0.  Commissioner Geller was not present.

Chapter 18, Part III, Section 18.63 of the Broward County Administrative Code stipulates that donations valued at $10,000 or more shall be accepted by Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners. Unanticipated revenue requires Board action to recognize and allocate.

Authorizes the acceptance of donations valued at $10,000 or more and allocates funding.

None.

THE LIBRARIES DIVISION RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
 

This action supports the Commission's Value to cultivate community culture, arts, recreation and life-long learning and the Goal to provide diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural and economically-viable community.

In 2001, Albert Jacobs and Ann Jacobs, customers of the Lauderhill City Hall Branch (later replaced by the Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch Library) willed $680,500 to the Broward Public Library Foundation (BPLF) to establish the Albert Jacobs and Ann Jacobs Trust (Trust) for the enhancement and expansion of the literacy programs at this library. Interest earned from this Trust, which is held within the BPLF endowment, has been used to sponsor adult, teen, and children’s programs to increase library attendance, purchase supplies, and computers for public use. The Board of County Commissioners has accepted donations from the BPLF to support staffing for the literacy program at the Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch Library since 2008.
 

The literacy program has provided increased services for the library’s Crossroads Café and English Café classes, “Each One, Teach One” program (volunteer and adult student for literacy improvement), and homework assistance for youth at least two afternoons per week (students also receive assistance with reading skills and have access to laptop computers for assignments). This successful program has been a model for literacy programs established at eight other library locations.
 

This year, the Trust will contribute $23,690 to fully fund a Library Specialist grant position (part-time 20 with benefits) for calendar year 2019. If any additional funds are made available to the Libraries Division from the Trust, those funds will be dedicated to purchasing additional literacy materials, expansion of existing literacy programs provided, and allowing for new literacy initiatives at the Lauderhill Towne Centre Branch Library.

The Trustees of the Albert Jacobs and Ann Jacobs Trust require reports of the program accomplishments and cost effectiveness. This will be the ninth year the Trust has provided funding for this program. In the event Trust funds are no longer available, the Library Specialist grant position will be eliminated.

Kelvin Watson, Director, Libraries Division, (954) 357-7377