Department
Library
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval of a Resolution by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approving the Form Contract, entitled “Memorandum of Agreement for Therapy Animal Programming within the Fulton County Library System” for use in the Fulton County Library System Therapy Animal Program; authorizing the County Manager or his designee to execute such Form Memorandum of Agreements and related documents; authorizing the County Attorney to approve the Form Memorandum of Agreements to form and to make changes thereto prior to execution; and for other related purposes. (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
body
Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
GA CONST Art. 9, §2, ¶ I provides the county with Home Rule Powers and OCGA Section 36-5-22 authorizes the county governing to vest certain authorities in the County Manager; OCGA Section 36-10-1 requires any contract entered into by the county be approved by the board and entered into its official minutes.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Arts and Libraries
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background
Approval of this item allows the Fulton County Library System with flexibility to associate contractors to provide volunteer animal-assisted therapy teams as literacy mentors to the FCLS patrons at FCLS locations on a scheduled basis while ensuring minimum safety requirements for all contractors, liability protections for the county, and consistent terms among for the entities through the use of a standardized template. A volunteer and their pet provide story times to children and families or provide one on one reading time slots with children unable to read in large group settings. Volunteers may also provide pet safety programs.
Scope of Work: Therapy pet services will be provided at participating library locations. Programs are scheduled with the Branch Manager and/or the Youth Services Librarian and advertised to the public. Staff is present for the program.
Community Impact: Volunteers and pets give back to the community. Children and families have a personalized reading environment.
Department Recommendation: The Library has hosted this program for 10+ years with great success and recommends approving the contract.
Project Implications: This project brings certified animals into the library to help families struggling with reading out loud. The project allows the library to reach a larger audience.
Community Issues/Concerns: There are no community issues nor concerns.
Department Issues/Concerns: There are no departmental issues or concerns.