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Brentwood City Commission Agenda

Meeting Date:	07/08/2019
Resolution 2019-68 - Teacher Paraprofessional Library Card Pilot Program
Submitted by:	Susan Earl, Library
Department:	Library

Information

Subject

Resolution 2019-68 - Amendment to the John P. Holt Brentwood Library Policy Manual for a Library pilot program that offers a library card for Teacher Paraprofessionals (also known as teacher assistants and teacher aides) from Brentwood schools.

Background

In 2013, the Library established a free teacher card for the teachers who work in public and private schools in Williamson County as part of the Library's educational role in the community and as another way to support our families. Since establishing this teacher card, there have been requests for teacher paraprofessional cards. Teacher paraprofessionals work with children in classroom activities, tutoring, and gathering information for the teachers.

At the August 2018 Library Board meeting, the Library Board recommended as a pilot program issuing free library cards to Teacher paraprofessionals in public and private schools in Brentwood. The card would be issued only to the individual and would be restricted to school use only. The Library Board believes this is a further way to serve the students in Brentwood with no direct financial burden to the City. The paraprofessionals would have the same privileges as a resident library cardholder, and they would be responsible for the same fines and fees for materials they checked out. The Library Board had proposed that the pilot program begin upon Commission approval and run through the school year ending in May 2019. However, since the Commission approval was after the Brentwood School Committee's previously scheduled visits to the schools, it was difficult to receive school permission to visit the schools again. As a result, the staff did not have a sufficient number of teacher paraprofessional library card memberships during the 2018-19 school year to make a recommendation to the Library Board regarding continuation of the program.

Thus, the Library Board proposed that the pilot program be extended through the school year ending in May 2020. The Board would then evaluate the program and make a recommendation to the Commission about its permanency. The Brentwood School Committee will set up their regular school visits in late July through August. We expect this will yield sufficient data for the Library Board to make a recommendation to the City Commission.

Staff Recommendation

It is the recommendation of staff to amend the John P. Holt Brentwood Library Policy Manual to include a Teacher Paraprofessional Library Card pilot program for the 2019-20 school Year.

Previous Commission Action

The City Commission approved amendment to the 2013-14 Policy Manual under section II Operational Guidelines/B.Operational Procedures/2. Library Cards/d. on June 10, 2013, regarding free Library cards for school teachers. The Commission approved the same pilot program intended for 2018-19 school year on September 10, 2018 (Resolution 2018-74).

Fiscal Impact

Attachments
Resolution 2019-68
Policy Manual Amendment
Signed Resolution