Long Beach Public Library Foundation

THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ENHANCE THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ENCOURAGES LITERACY AND EDUCATION FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

LITERACY SUPPORT AT ALL LEVELS AND TOOLS FOR SUCCESS: THE FOUNDATIONS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, GRANTS, AND ENDOWED FUNDS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ENHANCE THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ENCOURAGE LITERACY AND EDUCATION FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THESE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE: FAMILY LEARNING CENTER PROGRAM: THE FAMILY LEARNING CENTER PROGRAM IS THE LIBRARY AND FOUNDATIONS FLAGSHIP PARTNERSHIP. LEARNING GUIDES ASSIST STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK AND SCHOOL PROJECTS IN LANGUAGE ARTS, READING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY. THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE, OVERSIGHT, AND FREE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT SUPPORT CURRICULUM. LEARNING GUIDES ALSO WORK WITH THE STUDENTS PARENTS, WHENEVER AVAILABLE, TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE LEARNING PROCESS. THIS IS ONE OF THE CITYS BEST RESOURCES IN HELPING TO BRIDGE THE COMMUNITYS VAST DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PROVIDES FREE AFTER-SCHOOL HOMEWORK AND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM COME FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS. THE FAMILY LEARNING CENTER ALSO SERVES AS AN ENTRY POINT TO CONNECT PATRONS WITH ADDITIONAL SERVICES. THE MAKERSPACE STUDIO: THE STUDIO IS A DIGITAL CREATIVITY LAB AT THE BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY AND MICHELLE OBAMA NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY WHICH INTEGRATES STEAM AND MAKERSPACE ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO LEARN 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. THE STUDIO OFFERS FREE WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES ON CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS 3D PRINTERS, ROBOTICS, VIRTUAL REALITY, A BROAD COLLECTION OF DESIGN SOFTWARE AND ONLINE APPLICATIONS, AND VIDEO AND MUSIC EDITING SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO TEACH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SKILLS TO YOUTH. IN ADDITION, A MOBILE STUDIO ENABLES THE LIBRARY TO BRING THESE RESOURCES TO EACH OF ITS BRANCHES, AND TO SCHOOLS, PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. SUMMER READING PROGRAM: THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO READ REGULARLY EACH DAY OVER SCHOOL BREAK TO PREVENT SUMMER SLIDE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS THROUGH THE LONG BEACH DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT ALREADY COMING INTO THE LIBRARY. DICTIONARY DAYS: THROUGH THE DICTIONARY DAYS PROGRAM, THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION PURCHASES AND DISTRIBUTES A DICTIONARY/THESAURUS TO EVERY 3RD GRADER (TYPICALLY BETWEEN 5,000 6,000) IN THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SEVERAL CHILDREN HAVE SHARED THAT THESE DICTIONARIES ARE THE FIRST BOOK THEY HAVE EVER OWNED.DIVE INTO READING: DIVE INTO READING IS THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARYS 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THIS IS A SIMPLE ENDEAVOR TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO READ WITH THEIR CHILDREN, WITH THE GOAL OF READING 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAMILIES ONE-ON-ONE TO KEEP READING. THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTOR INFLUENCING A CHILDS EARLY EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS IS AN INTRODUCTION TO BOOKS AND BEING READ TO AT HOME TO DEVELOP VOCABULARY PRIOR TO BEGINNING SCHOOL.CAREER ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL: THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CAREER ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH PROVIDES LONG BEACH ADULTS WITH A SECOND CHANCE FOR FREE AT RECEIVING AN ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND A CREDENTIALED CAREER CERTIFICATE. THIS PROGRAM HELPS TO PREPARE LONG BEACH CITIZENS TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE A STABLE HOME FOR THEIR CHILDREN.LB READS: A BRAND-NEW ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM, LB READS, WAS LAUNCHED IN JUNE OF 2019. READING TUTORS PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND, ONE-ON-ONE LITERACY LESSONS THAT AIM TO HELP ENGLISH SPEAKING ADULTS IMPROVE THEIR READING AND WRITING SKILLS SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AS WORKERS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS.SENIOR SERVICES: IN ADDITION TO WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS SUCH AS INTERNET SAFETY, THE HOMEBOUND READER PROGRAM ALLOWS LIBRARY PATRONS WHO ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PERSONALLY SELECTED BOOKS AND MATERIALS DELIVERED TO THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE. BOOKS, MATERIALS, AND ONLINE RESOURCES: HUNDREDS OF NEW BOOKS ARE PURCHASED EVERY YEAR TO UPDATE THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARYS CATALOG. ONLINE RESOURCES SUPPORTED BY THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION INCLUDE BRAINFUSE JOB NOW WHICH OFFERS FREE JOB SKILLS AND RSUM ASSISTANCE, BRAINFUSE HELP NOW WHICH OFFERS LIVE ONLINE HOMEWORK HELP, AND BRAINFUSE VET NOW WHICH HELPS VETERANS NAVIGATE BENEFITS.ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES: THE LIBRARY IS A CITY DEPARTMENT AND PRIMARILY FUNDED BY THE CITYS GENERAL FUND WHICH MEANS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY CITY LEADERS, NAMELY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, PARTICULARLY AROUND BUDGET SEASON DURING WHICH THE COUNCIL VOTES ON THE LIBRARY BUDGET, HELPS TO ENSURE THE LIBRARY IS WELL-FUNDED BY THE CITY AND OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS: THE FOUNDATIONS CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEW BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY WHICH OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 HAS RAISED OVER $3 MILLION TO ENHANCE FURNISHINGS, TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT AT THE NEW LIBRARY, INCLUDING AN ENGAGING OCEAN-THEMED CHILDRENS LIBRARY AND AN EXPANDED FAMILY LEARNING CENTER AND STUDIO.