Joint Use Cooperative Agreement Between the San Francisco Public Library And the San Francisco Unified School District

Visitacion Valley Elementary School

Visitacion Valley Middle School

This Joint Use Cooperative Agreement is entered into on (insert date) by and between the San Francisco Public Library (Library) and the San Francisco Unified School District (District) on behalf of Visitacion Valley Elementary School and Visitacion Valley Middle School.  The purpose of this Agreement is to provide for certain joint use projects as specified in Education Code section 19994(a) and Title 5 Library Bond Act Regulation 20440(e)(3)(G).

Whereas, the Library and the District have demonstrated a sustained collaborative working relationship; and

Whereas, the joint activities described in this Agreement are in addition to a long-standing relationship in arranging class visits to the Library and school age children’s participation in various Library reading programs (e.g. the Summer Reading Program); and

Whereas, the District supports the Library’s goal of informational literacy of all students; and

Whereas, the Library supports the District’s goal of increased academic achievement of all students; and

Whereas, extensive consultation with the community and school staff during the in-depth needs assessment for the Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 application clearly identified a need for family literacy support and homework assistance;

Now therefore, the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Unified School District, finding that it is mutually beneficial to continue and expand upon their collaborative partnership in a way that will reinforce and strengthen the learning process of middle school students, agree as follows:

1.  The Library and the District agree to engage in joint venture projects in two areas, Family Literacy and Homework Center.  This agreement is contingent upon the Library receiving grant funding from the Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000, which will result in a newly constructed Visitacion Valley  Branch Library of the San Francisco Public Library with the necessary space and equipment to conduct these activities.

A.  Family Literacy Center

 Based upon needs assessment findings, a Family Literacy Center will fill a high priority need for the community served by the new Visitacion Valley Branch Library.  Visitacion Valley Elementary School has a strong commitment to encouraging student school success through family literacy.  The Library will become an active partner in this effort through a variety of activities in conjunction with the school.  These activities will expand upon the Library’s more general literacy support function by providing a series of programs developed in conjunction with the school designed to establish the Visitacion Valley Branch as an additional, more publicly accessible, partner in a community approach to developing strong family literacy within the school’s service area.    In support of this effort:

• The Library will develop and provide appropriate collections to assist with overall family literacy, emphasizing books-on-tape for children and adults as well as materials in languages relevant to the community.   A special effort will be made to acquire magazines and newspapers in these languages.  Materials in English that reflect and recognize the cultural make-up of the community will also be a priority.  How-to books to assist neighborhood adults in a variety of projects and subjects will be targeted.

• The District will actively promote use of the Library and its resources to parents and teachers in a variety of ways:

• The school will include information on the Library and its programs in the packets that it sends to parents
• The Library will have a place on the agenda for a minimum of four teacher meetings during the school year
• Library staff will also be on the agenda for Back to School Night and fifth grade graduation, the best parent-attended school events
• The school will post Library flyers, etc., in the Parents’ Room at school and will include Library events in the school newsletter
• The Library will have displays and staff present at the school during parent conference weeks

• Through Project Read, the Library’s adult literacy program, the Library will provide one-to-one tutoring and small group instruction for adults who need help with their reading and writing skills.  Project Read will recruit and train tutors to work with parents in the neighborhood.  The District will assist in this project by providing opportunities for Project Read staff to speak at the schools to recruit tutors and potential students.  One of the primary motivators for adults to improve literacy is the desire to read to their children and to help their children succeed in school. The Library will work with Project Read and the District to develop additional workshops or events to increase participating parents’ comfort level with children’s books and with reading to their children as part of this program.

• As part of a school project on how to read and write various types of materials, the Library and school will sponsor an annual poster contest with the Library as the subject of text and graphics.  The art would be hung at the Library with an accompanying reception for children and their families.  Following an agreed time of display within the Library, the art would go into locations all over the community.  As part of preparation for the contest, the librarian would visit participating classrooms to talk about what a library does.

• The Library Summer Reading Program will have a school component.  The school will work to promote participation throughout the entire school to parents and students in the spring.   After the return to school in the fall, the librarian will forward participating student names to the school and their names will be announced at a school program or event.

• The Library and school will conduct a drive to register all Visitacion Valley Elementary school students for a library card during the first year of this program.  Following that first year, there will be an annual drive to register all first grade students as they enter school.  The Library will visit the school classes and supply the school with application forms.  Teachers will send the forms home with students and receive the completed applications.  The Library will pick up the completed applications, create library cards and return to the classes to distribute them.  The school will provide a prize to the first class to achieve 100% registration.

• The Library will host an annual Teacher’s Open House on a school in-service day.  This will be used as an opportunity to talk with teachers about library resources and services that might assist them throughout the school year.

• The Library and school will work together to plan an annual family storytelling or similar literary based event to be held at the branch or school.  Both organizations will promote this a joint event for the community to encourage literacy and library use.

B.  Homework Center

The Visitacion Valley Middle School has made homework support a primary focus both in the school and through their agreements with the Beacon Center housed within the school building.  They also recognize that a supportive space in which to do homework off of the school grounds can serve as an additional enhancement of the school’s homework support system.  In return, the Library recognizes that the school is not open to students in the evening and on weekends and that it can provide a variety of resources that can expand and support homework assistance.  Therefore, the Library will establish a formal Homework Center for the students of Visitacion Valley Middle School:

• The Library will provide student instruction on use of print and electronic resources to support school curriculum and assignments.  Such instruction will be a priority for this branch.  Instruction will be offered within the branch as scheduled by teachers and the librarian or at the school if the school infrastructure permits.  The school and the Library will create a schedule and focus of training as appropriate for the various grade levels. 

• The Library and school will provide one program per semester for parents on how they can assist their children with their schoolwork.  The program will be held at the Library and will be developed and presented jointly by school and Library staff.

• The Library will work with Language Arts/Reading teachers to offer curriculum support and enhancement materials and activities.  These can include but are not limited to:
• Supportive reading lists
• Author, performer and other literary based programs
• Book talks for students (in classes during school hours and at the Beacon Center after school)
• Introducing teachers to the newest or special literature for young people through presentations at teacher meetings as well as at one program at the Library in early Fall

• The Library will work with the school to develop an annual program for eighth graders on planning for high school, career and college.  The Library’s College Access Center, a program that provides assistance and information to students about choices after high school, will be invited to participate in this annual presentation.  Supportive materials will be provided at the library for students.

• The Library and school staff will collaborate to train high school and adult volunteers to assist Visitacion Valley Middle School students with their homework at the Visitacion Valley Branch Library.  Area school and Library staff will provide three trainings per year for the program, including one reflective/evaluative program at the end of the school year.  The school will promote the program to parents, students and the Beacon Center staff.    High school youth participating as volunteers by serving as tutors will be expected to commit to a minimum of one semester of service.  Adult volunteers will be expected to commit to six months.  The Library will work with the school and the Beacon Center to establish the most appropriate hours for the program and will provide space within the planned meeting room on a regularly scheduled basis.  The room will be committed to that use during those times.  In addition, the Library will provide access to on-line homework assistance through Tutor.com or similar program on a year-to-year basis, dependent upon annual evaluation and use.  The school will distribute information on these programs to parents at the beginning of each school year.  The Library will advertise the service in its monthly list of programs and activities both in print and on its web site.

• The school will commit to participating with the Library in the American Library Association library card project with the goal of having all students obtain a library card to aid in school success.  The Library will work with the school to register students and will supply the cards.  The school will provide an award or prize for the first class to achieve full library card registration.

• The Library and the District will sponsor a yearly teacher night at the Visitacion Valley Branch to promote use of the facility and positive relationships.  Although open to all teachers and the Beacon Center staff, new teachers will be targeted for this event.  In addition, the branch librarian will have a standing time slot once every two months on the faculty meeting agenda to discuss relevant programs, services and resources. 

• The Library will expand it’s collection of high-interest, low-vocabulary materials for middle school youth.

• The school will provide space for Library staff at parent nights and similar events during the school year.  The principal will send a message to parents at the beginning of each school year, urging them to make the Library a family destination for homework and as part of their general literary life. 

Future Projects

The Library will work to expand cooperation with other schools within the Visitacion Valley Branch service area.  In addition, it will work with the College Access Center program housed at the Main Library to encourage Visitacion Valley Middle School students to consider college options as they advance into high school.

Funding for Collaborative Projects

Funding for the furniture and equipment for the projects described above that will operate within the Visitacion Valley Branch Library will be provided by the Friends & Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library.  Funding for building construction will be provided by San Francisco’s Branch Library Facilities Improvement Bonds, supplemented with revenues from the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000.  Ongoing operations of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library, and the staff required to run the branch and programs, will be funded by Library dedicated property tax and City General Fund revenues under the requirements of the Library Preservation Fund.  The District will provide staff time and relevant resources for the Family Literacy and Homework Center functions within the bounds of the school site plan and District priorities.

Supervision of Staff

Supervision of teachers and all other school personnel will be the responsibility of the District.  Supervision of Library staff will be the responsibility of the Library.  Project Read will supervise literacy volunteers.

Hours of Service

Library hours of service for students and the public at the Visitacion Valley Branch Library are: Tuesdays from 10:00AM to 6:00PM; Wednesdays from 12:00PM to 7:00PM; Thursdays from 1:00PM to 7:00PM; Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00PM to 6:00PM.  The Library will be open a minimum of 31 hours per week. Library hours are adjusted every five years after a series of public hearings, as required by the Library Preservation Fund.

Library Location

The proposed joint use projects will be located at the newly constructed Visitacion Valley Branch Library at Leland and Rutland streets.   The Branch is within walking distance of the schools.

Ownership of Library Building and Responsibility for Operations

The Library will be the owner of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library building.  The Library also will own all furnishings and equipment in the building as well as the entire book and materials collection and all computer equipment. 

The Library will be responsible for facility operation and management for the Visitacion Valley Branch Library and will provide building and equipment maintenance, including maintenance of all computers, telephones, TV/Video and/or future electronic equipment installed or placed in the Library unless specifically excluded through other grants or lease arrangements.

Review of Agreement

During the first year of this Agreement, an equal number of representatives from the Library and the District will meet quarterly to review, evaluate and modify the conditions of this Agreement.  During the second year, an equal number of representatives will meet biannually (twice a year), and in the third year and beyond, representatives will meet biennially (every two years) to review and modify this Agreement. In addition, a review and modification meeting may be called by either party at any time upon 30-day written notice.

Field Act

The Visitacion Valley Branch Library project is not subject to the Field Act requirements for review of plans and specifications by the Division of the State Architect for structural safety, disabled access and fire/life safety.  The rationale for this determination is that student attendance at programs or instruction at the Visitacion Valley Branch Library will be provided as part of a class visit to the Library.  No part of the Library will serve as a classroom or permanent teaching site for students. 

Twenty-Year Agreement

The District and the Library agree to provide joint use library services consistent with the intent of this Agreement and the needs of the community for a period of at least twenty years following completion of the new Visitacion Valley Branch Library.  The new Visitacion Valley Branch Library shall be deemed completed when the City determines that the construction of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library is substantially complete and the building is ready for occupancy. 

Forty-Year Public Library

The Visitacion Valley Branch Library shall be dedicated to public library direct service use for a period of forty years following the completion of the project.  Education Code Sections 19999 and Title 5 Library Bond Act Regulations 20220 (e)(3)(G) are incorporated herein into this Agreement.

Dispute Resolution

If any party defaults in its performance, the aggrieved party shall promptly notify the defaulting party in writing.  Any dispute shall be first addressed at an administrative level between the parties.  If a successful resolution cannot be obtained at the administrative level, the dispute shall be forwarded to the governing body of each party for final resolution.

Indemnification

A.  Library agrees to indemnify and hold harmless District and their employees, agents and elective and appointive boards from and against any damages including costs and attorney’s fees arising out of any negligent or intentional acts or omissions of Library, its employees or agents. 

B. District agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Library, their employees, agents and elective and appointive boards from and against any damages including costs and attorney’s fees arising out of any negligent or intentional acts or omissions of District, its employees or agents.

Changes and Amendments

A.  Any party may request changes in the scope of services.  Any mutually agreed upon changes shall be effective when incorporated in written amendments to this Agreement.

B. The party desiring the revision shall request amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement in writing.  Any adjustment to this Agreement shall be effective only upon the mutual agreement in writing of the District and the Library.

C. No verbal agreements or conversations prior to execution of this Agreement or any requested Amendment shall affect or modify any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement unless reduced to writing according to the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

D. If the contemplated funding for these programs should become unavailable, the parties will re-negotiate the joint venture services to be provided under this Agreement.

By:  ________________________________                             By:  _________________________________

        Board of Supervisors,                                                         San Francisco Unified School District

        City and County of San Francisco

Date:  _______________________________            Date:  ________________________________