Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 8

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

04/12/2016

Agenda Report #110





TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Georgia Recreation and Park Association Innovative Grant



INITIATED BY: Parks and Recreation Department



Recommendation Approval is requested to submit an application and if awarded

accept funds for $1,000 from Georgia Recreation and Park Association for our

?Little Free Library Program. The books will be donated by the organizations in

the community and will be stored at one of our recreation centers. No matching

funds required



Background: A Little Free Library is a ?take a book, return a book? free book

exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a

small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.

Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch.



The books that will be used to fill the Little Free Libraries will be donated

by organizations within the community. As a department we have been collecting

books for approximately two years and storing them at one of our recreation

centers. We have garnered partnerships with the local Chattahoochee Valley

Library System, the Columbus Literacy Alliance, Barnes and Noble, UGA

Cooperative Extension Service, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Newspaper, Fort

Benning Children and Youth Services, and Midtown Columbus. These partnerships

will enable us to continue to gather books and keep the Little Free Libraries

maintained and stocked for years to come.

We have a lofty goal to eventually place a Little Free Library in every park we

have which would total about 52 Little Free Libraries. We want to begin our

program by placing Little Free Libraries in our parks that have recreation

facilities. We will use the staff at the facilities to help maintain the

libraries and to act as ?librarians? for our libraries making sure they stay

stocked with lots of books for people of all ages. We will also use our RSVP,

Retired Senior Volunteer Program, as well as other partner organizations such

as the Columbus Literacy Alliance, and UGA Columbus Extension office to help in

maintaining the books at each Little Free Library.



We will use old metal newspaper boxes that we will acquire from the Columbus

Ledger-Enquirer to retro into new Little Free Libraries. We will also be

utilizing the carpentry staff of the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department

to build artistic and wooden Little Free Libraries as well.



Analysis: Parks and Recreation is requesting to receive grant funds from its

state organization, Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA)



Financial Considerations: The grant amount requested is $1,000 for the

Department of Parks and Recreation and the city of Columbus. There is no City

match required.



Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if awarded

accept funds for $1,000 from Georgia Recreation and Park Association for our

?Little Free Library Program. The books will be donated by the organizations in

the community and will be stored at one of our recreation centers. No matching

funds required



A RESOLUTION

No____



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR, AND IF

AWARDED, ACCEPT A GRANT FROM GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION (GRPA) TO

FUND A ?LITTLE FREE LIBRARY?.



WHEREAS, the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) recently

announced a new grant program for its agency members; and,



WHEREAS, the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) New

Initiative Grant program is intended to spur innovation in parks and recreation

services at a local or regional level; and,



WHEREAS, grant funding is available for agencies submitting the grant

application, with the future applicability for other agencies at a local,

regional or statewide level; and,



WHEREAS, initiatives can be defined as programs, services or events; and,



WHEREAS, five $1,000 grants are being made available for agencies

initiating new programs in their communities; and,



WHEREAS, grant funds must be expended within the agency?s current or

upcoming fiscal year in which it is awarded.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS

FOLLOWS:



That the City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized to submit an

application and if approved, accept funds from Georgia Recreation and Park

Association (GRPA) to fund ?Little Free Library? program.

___________________



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the

__________ day of ____________________, 2016, and adopted at said meeting by

the affirmative vote of _______ members of said Council.





Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Buck voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Huff voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Thomas voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.







_____________________________ _________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor

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