Shared Vision & Bringing the Library to You Grants

The 2019–20 California state budget contained $8 million for the State Library to provide grants to local public library jurisdictions to implement early learning and after school programs, and to support mobile library solutions.

These new programs increased Californians’ access to health, workforce, education, and socio-emotional resources, while also increasing the mobility and accessibility of public libraries.

To learn more about the impact of the Shared Vision Project, watch this video:

List of all grants in this project

Early Learning Grants

Three small children playing with bubbles in a playground.

As trusted, stigma-free spaces, libraries offer a unique setting to strengthen at-risk families, promote wellness, and deliver a range of important early learning opportunities.

With a $2.7 million investment of state funds, and in partnership with other community service providers, libraries are connecting children, youth, families, and caregivers with the services they need to thrive.

Community hubs provide “wrap-around” community services for early learners, supporting family health and wellbeing. Participation in parenting classes, Kinder Readiness workshops, and “Play and Learn” spaces increased early reading skills, fostered learning and creativity, and strengthened positive parent-child interactions.

Grantees

  • Butte County Library
  • Calaveras County Library
  • City of Imperial Public Library
  • Downey City Library
  • El Dorado County Library
  • Imperial County Free Library
  • LA County Library
  • Long Beach Public Library
  • Marin County Free Library
  • Oceanside Public Library
  • Orange Public Library
  • Pasadena Public Library
  • Porterville Public Library
  • Redwood City Public Library
  • San Jose Public Library
  • San Luis Obispo City-County Library
  • Santa Barbara Public Library
  • Southern California Library Cooperative and San Diego County Library
  • Ventura County Library Systems

To learn more about the impact of the Early Learning Projects, watch this video:

Out-of-School-Time Grants

A California child spends six hours a day in a classroom and 10 waking hours outside of one. The average school year lasts 180 days. $1.86 million in state funding has enabled libraries to support children and teens during the 60% of their lives they aren’t in school.

After school, on weekends, and during the summer, funded library projects support and improve the social-emotional development of school-aged children and the workplace preparedness of teens. Participating youth had a leadership voice in designing and implementing activities.

All projects involve a partnership between the library and a community organization to better meet all needs of participating youth. Projects range from art instruction in Oakland to teen internships in Oceanside to natural science exploration in Inyo County.

Three boys gathered around a table looking at a book about creating cartoons.

Grantees

  • Azusa City Library
  • Anaheim Public Library
  • Corona Public Library
  • Inyo County Free Library
  • Kings County Library
  • Long Beach Public Library
  • Los Angeles Public Library
  • Marin County Free Library
  • Mono County Library System
  • Oakland Public Library
  • Oceanside Public Library
  • Orange Public Library
  • Roseville Public Library
  • Sacramento Public Library
  • San Diego Public Library
  • San Leandro Public Library
  • South San Francisco Public Library
  • Tulare County Library Foundation

To learn more about the impact of the Out-of-School-Time Projects, watch this video:

Bringing the Library to You Grants

 Photo of the side of a bookmobile that has pictures of books and says “Monrovia Reads Mobile Literacy”.

When Californians lack transportation, live far from their library, or work long hours, mobile library solutions make it possible for library users to access materials and services. Over $2.7 million in state funds are supporting twenty libraries as they implement new ways to bring literacy, technology, and other services to those who face challenges visiting their local library. Bookmobiles will circulate in communities where transportation or distance make library visits difficult. Services will include materials check-out, programming, access to wifi, literacy services, and even archiving of important documents.

Grantees

  • Beaumont Library District
  • Contra Costa County Library
  • El Dorado County Free Library
  • Inyo County Free Library
  • Kings County Library
  • Library Foundation of Los Angeles (for Los Angeles Public Library)
  • Madera County Library
  • Merced County Library
  • Monrovia Public Library
  • Monterey County Free Libraries
  • Ontario Public Library
  • Riverside County Library System
  • Sacramento Public Library
  • Salinas Public Library/City of Salinas
  • San Benito County Free Library
  • San Luis Obispo City-County Library
  • Santa Ana Public Library
  • Solano County Library
  • Tulare County Free Library
  • Watsonville Public Library

To learn more about the impact of the Bringing the Library to You Projects, watch this video:

Open+

Open+ is a system that enables library patrons to access library buildings and resources outside of normal operating hours. Created to complement staffed library hours, the system uses cameras, sensors, and automated locks that allow visitors to access hold pick-up areas and other self-service resources.

The Califa Group received a $272,500 grant to implement the Bringing the Library To You: Open+ Pilot Project. Ten libraries participated.

In Tehama County, library user Maria was able to study for and pass a test required for employment. Her working schedule prevented her from visiting the library during traditional hours, and the new hours provided by Open+ enabled her to access materials.

Illustration of a library that shows the technology Open+ provides that allows people to access the library without staff. Includes a control system, a monitoring camera, a speaker to broadcast messages, and self-checkout machines.

Grantees

  • Corona Public Library
  • Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Center
  • Hemet Public Library
  • Nevada County Library
  • Pauma Band of Mission Indians
  • San Jose Public Library
  • Santa Monica Public Library
  • Stanislaus County Free Library
  • Tehama County Library
  • Torrance Public Library

Information for Shared Vision grant recipients is available on the Manage Your Grant page.


This project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.