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Home My WebLink AboutBoard of Library Trustees 2026-03-10 Agenda Packet1 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MARCH 10, 2026 AT 6:00PM CITY HALL LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM THIRD FLOOR 1400 5TH AVE, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA This meeting will be held in person. The meeting is being streamed live via Zoom: https://bit.ly/BLT-03-10-2026 Want to listen to the meeting over the phone? Call: (669) 444-9171 and enter 890-6505-3663# How to participate in the meeting: • You are welcome to come to the meeting and provide public comment in person. Each speaker will have 2-minutes to provide public comment on agenda items. • Submit your comments by email to jinder.banwait@cityofsanrafael.org by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER – 6:00PM MINUTES 1. Approve regular meeting minutes of February 10, 2026 Recommended Action – Approve as submitted OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION The public is welcome to address the Library Board at this time on matters not on the agenda that are within its jurisdiction. Comments may be no longer than 2 minutes and should be respectful to the community. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2. Every Story Counts Survey Results, Daniel Avalos OTHER AGENDA ITEMS If necessary to assure completion of the following items, the Chairperson may establish time limits for the presentations by individual speakers. 3. Academic Support at the Library Recommendation: Review and provide comment STAFF LIAISON REPORT 4. Other brief program updates or reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by staff. TRUSTEES REPORTS 5. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Board members ADJOURNMENT 2 Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the Board less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall be available for inspection online and in the city hall large conference room, third floor, 1400 5th Avenue, San Rafael, California placed with other agenda-related materials on the table in front of the location prior to the meeting. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible format s upon request. To request Spanish language interpretation, please submit an online form at https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/request-for- interpretation/. Minutes subject to approval at the meeting of March 10, 2026 1 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MINUTES ________________________________________________________________________ City Hall Large Conference Room, Third Floor 1400 5th Ave, San Rafael, CA February 10, 2026 – 6:00 P.M. Virtual Meeting Recording Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrmSDflv_ds CALL TO ORDER Chair Kyle called the meeting to order at 6:02 P.M. Roll Call Present: Trustee Andow Trustee Lee Trustee Vahdat Chair Kyle Absent: Trustee Polk Also Present: Bonnie Groshong, Senior Librarian Daniel Avalos, Assistant Library & Recreation Director Javier Morales, Librarian II Jinder Banwait, Administrative Analyst Shani Boyd, Supervising Librarian MINUTES 1. Approve Regular Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2026 Trustees provided comments. The minutes of January 13, 2026 were approved as submitted. Minutes subject to approval at the meeting of March 10, 2026 2 Trustee Vahdat moved, and Trustee Andow seconded to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2026 meeting. *Ayes: Trustees: Andow, Lee, Vahdat, and Kyle Noes: Trustees: None Absent: Trustees: Polk Abstain: Trustees: None Minutes were approved as submitted. Chair Kyle invited public comment; however, there was none. *Trustee Lee initially objected. However, after seeing the special note regarding Trustee Vahdat’s virtual attendance of the January 13, 2026 meeting, Trustee Lee approved the minutes of the January 13, 2026 meeting . OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION Public Comment from the audience regarding items not listed on the agenda. None SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2. Meet the Team: Adult Services, Bonnie Groshong and Javier Morales Staff responded to questions from the Trustees. Trustees provided comments. Chair Kyle invited public comment; however, there was none. 3. Indie Lens Launch, Shani Boyd Staff responded to questions from the Trustees. Trustees provided comments. Chair Kyle invited public comment; however, there was none. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS 4. FY 24-25 California State Library Data by Daniel Avalos Staff responded to questions from the Trustees. Trustees provided comments. Chair Kyle invited public comment; however, there was none. STAFF LIAISON REPORT Minutes subject to approval at the meeting of March 10, 2026 3 5. Other brief program updates or reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by staff. Presentation by Daniel Avalos Staff responded to questions from the Trustees. Trustees provided comments. TRUSTEES REPORTS 6. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Board members. Trustees provided comments. Chair Kyle invited public comment for agenda item five and agenda item six; however, there was none. NEXT MEETING: March 10, 2026 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 P.M. BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES AGENDA REPORT March 10, 2026 Item # 3 TITLE: ACADEMIC SUPPORT AT THE LIBRARY RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Trustees review the report and provide comment. BACKGROUND The San Rafael Public Library provides comprehensive academic support services designed to advance literacy, strengthen math skills, and ensure equitable access to learning resources for students and families. Core initiatives include Reading Buddies, Math Club, the Student MyCard program, and a robust suite of online learning tools. Together, these services create a coordinated system of academic support that addresses both access and achievement. DISCUSSION The Library’s academic support strategy is grounded in reducing barriers to access, strengthening foundational skills, and extending learning beyond the classroom. In addition to our core library services that encourage reading, learning, and exploration, the Library provides academic enrichment designed to complement and reinforce students’ classroom experiences. By combining direct student engagement, partnerships with local schools, and accessible online tools, the Library offers layered support that addresses literacy development, math proficiency, homework assistance, and research skills. Together, these initiatives position the San Rafael Public Library as a key partner in promoting educational equity and student success. The following sections provide an overview of each core initiative: Reading Buddies Reading Buddies is a free after-school literacy program for students in grades 3-5 designed to strengthen foundational reading skills and foster a lifelong love of reading. Participants are matched one-on-one with a volunteer for 30-minute sessions that provide personalized reading practice in a supportive environment. The program, which supports 20-25 students per session, builds reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence while helping children develop a positive association with reading and learning. Sessions are typically offered after school and require registration and direct coordination with Library staff. Math Club For 10 weeks each session cycle, Bahar, the Library’s Math Instructor, works closely with three small cohorts of 7–8 students, approximately 24 students per session, once a week. This small- group model allows for individualized attention, targeted skill-building, and meaningful student engagement. Parents and students consistently report that the sessions help sharpen math skills, reinforce classroom learning, and improve overall academic performance. Just as importantly, the Page 2 of 3 program provides a supportive and welcoming environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, practicing new concepts, and building confidence in their abilities. After-school Homework Help for Teens The Downtown Library offers a free drop-in tutoring and homework help program for teens in the Teen Area. This after-school service provides a safe, welcoming, and teens-only environment where students can receive academic support, complete assignments, and engage with peers. A teacher from Marin Academy provides subject-specific tutoring support on select days, and the teen librarian is available to assist with homework, research, and study skills. In addition to academic assistance, the program offers snacks, games, crafts, and school supplies to encourage both educational success and positive youth engagement. Student MyCard Program The Student MyCard program expands equitable access to library resources by enabling students in participating districts to use their student ID number as a library account with the San Rafael Public Library, in partnership with San Rafael City Schools. Library staff are responsible for creating all new and replacement cards and work closely with school staff to coordinate distribution by grade level and classroom. Elementary students receive physical library cards, while middle and high school students are issued digital library cards; however, any student may visit any public library in Marin County to request a physical card. Library staff also visit schools during classes and assemblies to promote available resources and build meaningful relationships with students, reinforcing the Library as a trusted source of support within their community. Through the MyCard program, students receive free access to homework help and tutoring in English and Spanish, digital resources, public access computers, and physical collections throughout Marin County, supporting literacy development and academic success. The San Rafael Public Library participates in the MyCard program in collaboration with the Marin County Free Library and San Rafael City Schools Online Student Resources The Library’s online student resources are anchored by BrainFuse HelpNow, which provides comprehensive, on-demand academic support for K–12 students and beyond. Services include live homework help, skill-building tools, a 24-hour writing lab, assistance with specific homework questions, foreign language support, and Spanish-speaking tutors—ensuring equitable access to personalized learning assistance for students and families. In addition, the Library offers a broad range of high-quality research and enrichment resources to support teaching and learning across grade levels. These include general and subject-specific encyclopedias from Encyclopedia Britannica (Britannica School and Britannica Escolar). The Library also offers a wide range of academic, primary source, and subject-focused databases from ProQuest and Gale, supporting research in areas such as history, science, environmental studies, global cultures, performing arts, and age-appropriate inquiry for elementary through high school students. Collectively, these resources deliver comprehensive, curriculum-aligned support for students at all grade levels. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact. Page 3 of 3 Submitted by: Daniel Avalos Assistant Library & Recreation Director