King County Library System Foundation

Approximately $411,000 was granted to support Community Services & Outreach. A majority of this amount supported Peers in Libraries, approximately $304,000. This program connects library patrons who have barriers to obtaining basic needs met, are experiencing housing instability or are unhoused, or are living with HIV/AIDS with services and resources to move them toward stability and improved health. KCLS Extending Services to People Experiencing Homelessness program, increases access for people who experience barriers to utilizing library buildings and programs due to housing instability. This program brings library resources and programs to community locations such as tent cities, shelters, day centers, treatment clinics, food banks, and subsidized housing. Services include book distribution, hotspot lending, activity kits, referrals to public benefits, and early literacy programs. Services to patrons experiencing food insecurity program provides books and programming to ten food bank locations across our service area. each location receives $1,000 stipend for programming that includes story times, food literacy, and community resource navigation. The Welcoming Centers programs goal is to facilitate connections and create communities of belonging among immigrants, refugees, and new arrivals. It functions as a point of connection, a suite of wraparound services, and a resolution that all libraries are places of belonging.

Accessibility and Inclusion programs were granted approximately $370,000. This set of programs advance DEI in our communities in a number of ways. First, Writers of Color Author Series a series of online programs featuring high-profile BIPOC authors. A BIPOC community leader from King County moderates each event. Next, Connect: Wi-Fi Hotspots and Laptops program makes internet access available to people who would not otherwise be able to access it by distributing laptops and hotspots to partner agencies that serve people who are experiencing housing insecurity, as well as low-income seniors, immigrants, refugees, and students. Connecting Older Adults Online program takes a holistic approach providing learning opportunities that build the digital skills necessary in todays world, and art and humanities activities that are necessary for emotional well-being as people age. Older adults and caregivers are served through 40 online digital literacy classes, 100 online arts classes, and an online author series. The LGBTQIA+ Intergen Peer Programming a pilot program in which library staff will collaborate with community organizations to develop a framework for designing intergenerational LGBTQIA+ Programming and will host a series of 3 programs based on that framework. Lastly, Memory Labs Funded by a grant from The Mellon Foundation, KCLS will work with community partners during the Memory Lab project to gather, amplify, and preserve the stories of patrons who have been impacted by systemic inequities, and language and cultural barriers.

Approximately $253,000 was granted to support Lifelong Literacy & Learning Programs. These programs include Raising a Reader, Supporting Grade Level Reading, and Study Zone. Raising a Reader is a nationally recognized caregiver engagement and book delivery program, built upon research showing that childrens literacy increases when families are engaged in a regular reading routine and have access to high-interest books that are developmentally appropriate with diverse representation. Through partnerships with other agencies, we connect directly with high-priority audiences. KCLS provides developmentally appropriate and diverse books for young children and their families, which are distributed through community partners each week. Supporting Grade Level Reading OTTER & Sasquatch Award. A program that helps reluctant and eager readers alike develop and strengthen their love of reading by offering fun books, engaging activities, and the voice to vote for their favorite books of the year. Book sets are distributed using an equity lens prioritizing schools that are under-resourced. StudyZone, a volunteer-led program providing learning support in a consistent and positive environment allowing students to receive tutoring in all subjects. It also gives English language learners the opportunity to practice English conversation and reading with their peers and get homework help from tutors who speak a wide range of languages.