DEPARTMENT: Library Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Ramiro S. Salazar
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Acceptance of a donated vehicle.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a minivan from the San Antonio Public Library Foundation to the San Antonio Public Library for the Little Read Wagon Early Literacy Outreach Initiative.
This donation will enable the San Antonio Public Library to continue early literacy services through the Little Read Wagon outreach initiative. Services include early literacy training for parents, teachers and child care providers as well as opportunities for children and their caregivers to practice early literacy skills together.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Through the Little Read Wagon initiative, the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) has provided outreach early literacy training since 2002. Through this initiative SAPL provides early literacy training for parents, teachers and child care providers as well as opportunities for children and their caregivers to practice early literacy skills together.
Little Read Wagon staff travel to locations across the city where parents and caregivers are already gathered to provide training that supports literacy development, emphasizing five simple practices that significantly improve school and reading readiness. Adults attending the training are encouraged to talk, sing, read, write and play with children to increase vocabulary and general background knowledge. Studies indicate that vocabulary size and background knowledge are the two best long-term predictors of a child’s school and reading success.
This is the second vehicle donated by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation in support of the San Antonio Public Library’s Little Read Wagon initiative through the Frost Bank / Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust. The first vehicle was accepted by City Council on June 12, 2014. With the acceptance of this donation, the Library will decommission one van from the original fleet (2002) and the total number of vehicles associated with the Little Read Wagon program will be 3.
ISSUE:
This ordinance will authorize the San Antonio Public Library to accept a Toyota Sienna (2016) minivan to transport existing Little Read Wagon staff and equipment to venues across the city. The San Antonio Public Library Foundation received funding from a grant through Frost Bank / Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust to acquire the minivan and worked with Cavender Toyota for the purchase.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the donated vehicle is not accepted, the San Antonio Public Library will continue to utilize the existing three vehicles available to this program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The vehicle donated has a value of $29,347.53 and will replace a vehicle from the original fleet. Library will use existing staff to implement the service model.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends acceptance of the donated Toyota Sienna minivan from the San Antonio Public Library Foundation for use by the San Antonio Public Library.