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Leon Valley council hears first readings of three library grants to expand adult education and workforce services
Summary
At a July 14 special meeting the Leon Valley City Council held first readings on three library grant ordinances — $10,000 from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, $75,000 from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and $2,500 from the Texas Book Festival — that would fund staff training, technology and one part-time grant-funded position to support workforce-development services at the Leon Valley Public Library.
The Leon Valley City Council on July 14 held first readings of three proposed ordinances that would accept grant funds for the Leon Valley Public Library and scheduled votes for the July 21 meeting.
Regina Reed, the library’s director, said the city applied for and was offered both a $10,000 Dollar General Literacy Foundation award and a $75,000 grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). Reed said the larger award would fund workforce-development programming, add technology (new Chromebooks, webcams and headsets), and support a part-time position for roughly 10 months tied to the grant term. “Part of it is to create a part time position that will be about 10 months, during the duration of the grant only,” Reed said, describing the post as grant-funded rather than a permanent city hire.
Reed said the library plans to bring live, one-on-one digital and educational help to patrons through a service called Brainfuse (HelpNow/CollegeNow/VetNow/JobNow) to assist with FAFSA applications, college and job applications, resume building and interview practice. She also said the grant funding would help provide vouchers to certifying organizations that would cover exam costs for people seeking GEDs or professional certifications, and that about $10,000 of the larger $75,000 proposal was earmarked for those voucher payments.
Council members asked how the library will measure outcomes. Reed said the library will establish specific, measurable “SMART” goals tied to class attendance and the number of people completing GED or certification tracks and will report progress as part of the grant requirements. She also told council the $75,000 award could be renewed for up to two years depending on performance.
Separately, Reed described a $2,500 Texas Book Festival award to update the adult nonfiction collection. Reed said books were priced roughly $38 each and the library receives a 47% discount on purchases; she said she would distribute a book-count breakdown to council.
Council consensus placed the three items on the July 21 consent agenda for formal approval. Because both library ordinances were presented as first readings, no final votes were taken July 14.
The council plans a final vote on the grants at its July 21 meeting.
