Discussion and possible action to: (a) accept four grants totaling $39,000 from the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Arizona State Library; and (b) approve a budget amendment for $39,000 from the Proposed Grants Contingency account to the various Library Services and Technology Act grant accounts.

The Peoria Public Library requests to accept funding provided by the Arizona State Library for $39,000.  Funding provided is for the four grants detailed below.

Music in the Garden: Funding of $27,000 to purchase musical instruments for the children’s patio at Sunrise Mountain Library, and for youth storytimes, as well as feature local guest musicians. The musical garden supports the development of community literacy skills and knowledge of basic musical concepts.

XR (VR) at Your Peoria Library: Funding of $4,000 will assist both Peoria Libraries to deliver top-quality STEAM learning resources to the community by fostering creative thinking with Virtual Reality (VR). The funds will be used to purchase or lease VR headsets and peripherals for inclusion in STEAM-based learning programs and events.

Spice it up, Peoria: Funding of $4,000 to introduce and compliment current system-wide resources to expand cultural experiences, enhance lifelong learning, cookery skills development, and provide inclusive community expression through spice. Staff anticipates greater community connections and collaboration with two local culinary experts who will explain the history and typical uses of different spices to help the community expand their repertoire of cooking skills. Staff will also invite the “Read It and Eat It” Cookbook Club to join in this endeavor, and staff will be using the wide collection of cookbook themes and taste regions, as well as encouraging the community to grow their own herbs with the Seed Library offerings.

Wi-Fi on the Fly Hotspot Lending Program: For the sixth year in a row, Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending Grant of $4,000 awarded to provide continuous support to the Peoria Library System’s very popular “Wi-Fi on the Fly” service at both library sites.

There has been no previous action on this item.

Staff recommends accepting the four grant awards totaling $39,000 from the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records Office and approve the budget adjustment for $39,000 from the Proposed Grants Contingency Account to the Library’s LSTA grant accounts as follows:

                                                                                    Total               $39,000

The Library requests an FY24 budget amendment of $39,000 from the Proposed Grant Contingency account (7990-7990-570000) to the Library Services and Technology Grant Account (7280-7350-various).