National City Library Board accepts literacy grant extension and approves reduced summer lunch funding

The National City Library Board voted to accept an extension of a literacy grant and approved a separate summer meal grant during its March meeting. Board members indicated the literacy grant amount listed in meeting materials will be corrected, and staff described plans to use the funds for English-language classes, one-on-one tutoring and other literacy services. The summer meal award to support the library’s summer program this year is for $6,138, down from supplemental funding the library received last year.

Board approval matters because both grants directly fund programs that serve children and families in National City, including English-as-a-Second-Language classes, basic computer instruction and a summer feeding program for children ages 0–18.

Library staff told the board the literacy award is a renewal and extension for the branch’s literacy services. Meeting materials and comments were inconsistent about the amount: staff said the program is “giving us another $10,000,” while the meeting packet listed $10,400. Staff told the board they will correct the figure in official records. The literacy services funded by the grant include ESL tutoring, basic computer classes, reading programs and one-on-one tutoring.

On the summer feeding award, the presenter said National City received $25,000 last year after an initial award of $16,000 plus an extra $10,000. This year, the library’s allocation from the same system is $6,138. Staff explained that last year’s higher total reflected an additional allocation that was not expected to recur and that the system allocates funds across multiple libraries. The board discussed whether the reduced amount will cover summer activities; staff said the funding is intended to operate only during the summer and will be integrated with the library’s summer reading program, with partner nonprofit(s) providing lunches on specified days.

Staff described the summer partner listed in materials as a nonprofit that provides free lunches and activities for children 0–18; during the discussion the presenter alternately referred to the organization as “Heaven’s Door” and “Heaven’s Gate.” The presenter said the nonprofit operates in San Diego but did not give a specific local address or fiscal details.

Formal motions and votes taken during the meeting included approval of the consent agenda, acceptance of the literacy grant extension and acceptance of the summer meal grant. Roll-call votes recorded in the transcript were: for the consent agenda, Secretary Locale—Aye, Member Rivera Moreno—Aye, Member Mead—Aye; for the summer meal grant acceptance, Secretary Lopez—Aye, Member Ramirez—Aye, an additional board member recorded as “Number 3”—Aye. The literacy-grant motion was recorded as “motion carries” without a roll-call vote listed in the transcript.

Library staff also presented a calendar of community programs. Staff reported a March 10 family “Mario” movie and craft event, St. Patrick’s Day crafts and bracelets, a Women’s History Month program with material from the local history room and a planned April Easter egg hunt that staff said will place more than 2,000 eggs around the library and begin at 10:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Staff said summer programming will include giveaways for children who complete the summer reading program.

Board members closed the meeting by thanking part-time staff for their work and noting the next meeting is scheduled for May 7 at 5:30 p.m.

Ending: The board did not identify specific long-term changes to programming; staff indicated they will correct the literacy grant amount listed in the packet and will continue coordinating summer activities within the library’s existing program structure.