RANCHO SANTIAGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (21) - 2013

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clerks and tutors in children's, teen and adult programs. Some of our part- timers are paid through the General Fund and others through various grants. In recent years, the library has a record of unusual success in attracting teens to its TeenSpace and supporting them through its many programs. The TeenSpace is advised by the Teen library Club. As a group, these teens have contributed many thousands of hours of community service to the library, 98 percent have graduated from high school and 90 percent have gone on to higher education. These are teens that do not represent the top 10- 20 percent of their high school class. They are not involved in student government or school activities. They are the quiet at -risk youth whom no one notices. But at our TeenSpace, they are noticed, nurtured and appreciated. The library has maintained a high number of ongoing programs for teens, including a very intensive Summer Volunteer Institute (SVI) that encourages teens to find self worth and civic engagement though giving back to their community. Last summer nearly 200 teens donated some 6,000 hours of their time to supporting programs for library patrons of all ages, mentoring over 200 children in our "Buddy" programs, helping limited English speaking adults to master computer technology and improve job skills, volunteering at community events, and becoming involved in the social and educational life of their community. All together, the library conducted nearly 90 programs for teens during the summer at three sites. At present, teens continue to volunteer through the school year in math, reading, fitness and art "Buddy" programs aimed at young children. There are daily activities for teens at both library branches and the Jerome Recreation Center, including the Youth Health Ambassadors, history, civics, green living scholarship, fitness and Teen Library clubs as well as arts, literature, video production and graphic arts workshops and tutoring in math and reading. Half of our part time staff are involved exclusively in assisting with these projects, and are experienced and committed to the growth and development of the young people they work with. The majority of teens hired through our grant programs have begun their contact with the library through the volunteer program. Our volunteers are mentored by staff and older teens and transition age young adults (18- 24), and encouraged to develop personal and academic goals and an understanding of the importance of their work to themselves and others. The library has also been unusually effective in working with probation youth volunteers. Annually, forty to fifty probation youth complete their community service at the library. Ten to fifteen of those continue volunteering at the library when their community service responsibilities are concluded. In all of our youth- centered programs, two guiding principles have been primary: The Circle of Mentoring concept and its logical successor, the Seeds to Trees concept. The first emphasizes the value to both mentor and mentee of a close and lasting supportive relationship, and the second the value of providing long -term mentoring, teaching and financial support for developing youth. These principles are the basis of our success with WIA youth in our 2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013 programs. All full -time employees at the library are involved in mentoring the students we employ under WIA. In addition, the library has been able to supplement this personal support with organizational support in the form of educational and personal counseling, transportation to classes, and paid internships at the library. To attest to the impact of library services, in 2011 -2012, out of 20 students in the Seeds to Trees Digital MediaTechnology Academy program, nine completed a high school diploma or GED, 9 students enrolled in post- secondary education, 15 found employment, 16 demonstrated an improvement in basic skills, and all 20 received digital media technology credentials (refer to attachment I2). EXHIBIT A