2016-17 Annual Report

were donated to the Riverside County Parks and community for backyard bat houses. Outreach included library booths at Sycamore Creek Interpretative Center, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Temescal Valley Faire (displayed a bat-inspired photo booth and a butterfly habitat, gave away bat habitats, read stories and gave away bat books). The Home Gardens Library focused on gang prevention and education strategies and activities, featuring the book Always Running by Luis Rodriguez and presenting gang intervention and education specialist Jay Franklin of Project One and Ritchie Sepulveda, former hit man for Mexican Mafia who escaped the cartel. Youth participated in small group facilitation by former gang members. Finally, youth served as volunteers at a rally, sponsored by community partner Good in the Hood, in their neighborhood, sorting and distributing groceries to families, giving away bags of clothes and toys, painting faces and helping with set-up and break down. Career Online High School Scholarship The graduation ceremony for RCLS’s first Career Online High School scholarship recipient took place on March 22, 2017, at the Adult Literacy Office in Jurupa Valley. The adult student completed his coursework in only 8 months (average completion period is 18 months). He received his accredited high school diploma and a career track certificate in office management. California Library Literacy Services Grant - $24,527: Grant funding from the California State Library to serve English speaking adult learners. The literacy office coordinates the matching of English- speaking adults who want to improve their literacy skills with a trained tutor. The

“pairs” work one-on-one at least once a week for a minimum of one hour to achieve their goal. California State Library LSTA Pitch-An- Idea Grant (Scratch & Story Studios Grant) - $15,824: Received 4 iPad mini tablets and 10 laptops for the Glen Avon and El Cerrito libraries. Glen Avon Library also received a mobile photography/ videography studio kit that includes a green screen. To introduce children to STEAM concepts, El Cerrito offered hands-on coding workshops, using Scratch Jr. app for children aged 5-7 and Scratch for children aged 8-11. Glen Avon offered podcasting and digital storytelling workshops for children in grades 6-8. In addition, $500 worth of newmaterials were added to the RCLS materials collection on computer coding and podcasting. California State Library Mental Health First Aid - $2,227: Received funding to train three library staff as certified instructors in the Mental Health First Aid program and instruction manuals for workshops for library staff. The Mental Health First Aid USA program is managed by the National Council for Behavioral Health. The Instructor Certification Program is a 5-day/weeklong training that prepares library staff on how to work effectively and compassionately with people living with mental health issues and help them connect with local mental health resources and services. The certified MHFA instructors led 4 workshops for library staff. Public Libraries Advancing Community Engagement (PLACE) Grant - $1,000: The Cabazon Library has been awarded a PLACE grant, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In partnership with NOAA

scientists, the library co-facilitated environmental education discussions in the community. Berger Foundation Grant - $35,000: The Thousand Palms Library chapter of the Friends of the Desert Libraries received a grant that allowed them to purchase 15 new iPads and 15 new laptops for public use at their library. Desert Literary Society Gift - $13,500: The Palm Desert, La Quinta, Thousand Palms, Coachella, Cabazon, Indio, Mecca, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City libraries received $1500 each from the Desert Literary Society for library programs and services. Programs, Services and Events District 1 Mead Valley Library Mead Valley Library was chosen as the ideal site to house the “Riverside Youth Art Month” exhibition and then to hold a short reception and awards ceremony on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Student artwork was displayed from February 25 through March 4, 2017. The Youth Art Month Program, which is administered by The Council for Art Education (CFAE) at the national level, celebrate visual arts for grades K – 12, emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. District 2 Louis Robidoux Library Supported by the Robidoux chapter of the Friends of Jurupa Valley Libraries, Robidoux Library held the “I Won’t Bang” workshop series for teenagers in June 2017. Robidoux Library followed Home Gardens Library’s model for the gang prevention/education,

developed under the Book to Action community grant. Louis Robidoux Library also brought scientific expertise to Jurupa Valley from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with “NASA at the Library” program in

June 2017. District 3 Idyllwild Community Library

Idyllwild Community Library held a week- long STEAM program for children and teens February 21-25, 2017. Library staff featured workshops on designing and printing with a 3D Printer, growing borax crystal snowflakes, editing digital photos, folding book art, coding with games and building their very own robot. These events created such buzz throughout the community that the Pine Cove Property Owners Association purchased a 3D Printer for the Idyllwild Community Library. District 4 Mecca Library Mecca Library has worked with the Embassy of El Salvador to host programs for the Salvadoran population of the valley. They have also partnered with TODEC (Training Occupational Development Educating Communities) to provide U.S. citizenship classes. District 5 Perris Library Perris Library hosted their annual “Dia de Los Ninos Celebration” on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The well-known Lake Elsinore Ballet Folklorico performed folk dances of Mexico. Ballet Folklorico is literally a story through dance, they have children as young as five years old participating. Library staff also prepared craft stations for children. The event brought in over 100 participants.

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