Services partially return for Brawley library
BRAWLEY — Library services will partially return here after the City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday.
In order to finish with a balanced fiscal year 2020-2021 budget — a budget heavily impacted by COVID-19 costs — the council voted in July to not fund any library services until after year’s end.
However, that changed with Tuesday’s vote.
Locals can now check out books via curbside pickup from the library’s Main Street branch. The library’s adult and family literacy services have also returned.
Both the Main Street and Del Rio buildings remain closed to public access.
The $51,479 in funding for the pickup and literacy programs was appropriated into the fiscal budget from donations and grants.
The group Brawley Library Friends donated $4,000 to fund the pickup program.
This donation will pay for a 10-hour-per-week staff member to conduct the curbside pickup of books for 21 weeks.
This part-time employee will work under the supervision of library director Marjo Mello. Since the city conducted its COVID budget cuts, Mello has been the only staff at the library. She is also currently the city’s interim parks and recreation director.
Curbside book pickup will be conducted in a way similar to contactless food delivery.
Those looking to check out a book will visit the website www. brawley.biblionix.com/ catalog/
On the website, patrons can enter their library card information and check out any book they would like.
The librarian will then verify if the desired book is available.
Patrons can then stop by between the designated pickup hours of 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday.
In order to receive their books, guests must park along Main Street in front of the library’s emergency exit door (located on the left side of the City Hall arch).
The staff member will deliver the books, which will be wrapped in a plastic bag, in the open trunk of the patron’s vehicle.
The remaining monies appropriated Tuesday were $47,479 in grant funds from the California State Library, California Library Literacy Services for adult and family literacy services.
Out of these funds, $13,750 will be spent on giveaway books and other items for the Literacy and Mobile Book Services (LAMBS) program.
LAMBS is a program separate from the library (it has been funded by First 5 Imperial since 2000) that resumed on Aug. 25.
Traditionally, the LAMBS travel bus traveled to childcare centers and preschools around the Imperial Valley, and a staff member would do pre-literacy activities with the young children.
Now the bus will be making its way to childcare centers, but only to drop off informational packets for children.
The packets will contain learning materials and a free book for each child.
During Tuesday’s regular council meeting, Councilman George A. Nava said the resumption of these two library programs added to the excitement of the city reopening from COVID.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first time in months that the council met inside the council chambers for a meeting.
Since April 7, the council has met virtually via Zoom, with each council member logging in from home.
“We haven’t been in this room for a long time together,” Nava said. “All the little steps that are involved, it’s just getting people to be excited again. I love it.”