The purpose of this report is to propose that the Burbank City Council amend the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget to appropriate $3,186 awarded to the Burbank Public Library for the Public Library Staff Education Program through the Library Services and Technology Act funds from the California State Library.

The Burbank Public Library has been awarded Public Library Staff Education Program funds through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) administered by the California State Library, in the amount of $3,186.

The Public Library Staff Education Program, which was developed by a team of public library directors and staff in response to the results of a survey conducted in 1998, seeks to address the need for more public librarians available to serve the state's children and young adults, in under-served, geographically isolated and other diverse communities. 

The Program is intended to assist public library staff who are seeking or working on securing a Master's degree in Library and Information Science, by awarding grant funds to the student's employing library specifically for reimbursement of the student's course tuition costs. 

The applicant must be employed full or part-time in a California public library or county law library, with employment having commenced at minimum, one calendar year prior to the date of the application.  The applicant must be accepted to, and be able to show evidence of acceptance to, an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library school.

The Burbank Public Library has identified one employee, Andrea Brooks-Kinder, who has met the eligibility criteria, and applied for the grant funds on her behalf.  Ms. Brooks-Kinder began her employment with the Burbank Public Library in May 2001.  She enrolled in the UCLA School of Information Studies in August 2002.   This Grant funding in the amount of $3,186 will provide reimbursement of her tuition costs for the 2002-2003 academic year.

The proposed budget amendment authorizes the Financial Services Director to appropriate $3,186 from the Revenue account 001-LB000-48010 (Other intergovernmental revenue) to Library Services Department Account 001-LB02A-62755 (Training).

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution entitled "Amending the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget to appropriate $3,186 awarded from the Public Library Staff Education Program through the Library Services and Technology Act funds from the California State Library."    

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