A.G. Gancarski
One of the goals of Councilman Tommy Hazouri has been to expand hours and service levels at Urban Core libraries in accordance with Project LEAP, a Library Enhancement Access Program that takes advantage of the library’s role as a “community access center.”
Recently filed legislation from fellow At Large Councilman Sam Newby ensures that he will have some help.
The bill would authorize “$266,210.07 in funding for the Library Enhancement Access Program. LEAP will hire four full-time and one part-time workers to provide literacy and educational programs in Health Zone 1. The classes include story time programs for parents and children to attend for a nine-week period; nine-week pre-GED classes for ages 18-24; and nine-week cycle of technology classes with a goal to increase digital literacy for teens and adults 16-24 to achieve academic success.”
Oversight would be provided by the Jacksonville Journey Oversight Committee.
“The Jacksonville Public Library will report monthly to the Jacksonville Journey Oversight Committee and quarterly to the City Council Finance Committee. The reports shall include how many individuals are attending each of the 3 programs, tracking the individuals progress through the programs, and what measurables that the LEAP program have accomplished,” the bill text reads.
