Primary Department: County Library
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Edward Melton, Director
Secondary Department: County Administration
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Jesse Dickerman, interim County Administrator
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Donation
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval to accept from Harris County Office of County Administration the donation of items purchased with grant funds for a lending library in the amount of $11,977.50.
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Background and Discussion:
Commissioners Court approved the Harris County Climate Justice Plan on April 10, 2025. One of the early actions in the Climate Justice Plan is to establish a "library of things", also known as a lending library, in each precinct. The Office of County Administration utilized grant funding from the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation to purchase household items that residents will be able to borrow from certain branch libraries. Assets will be transferred to the HCPL at additional cost to the County. The program will formally launch by the Fall of 2026.
Expected Impact:
This advances the implementation of the Harris County Climate Justice Plan, and it saves residents money by allowing them to borrow items that are used occasionally instead of purchasing them. This expands some of the existing lending library initiatives at two branch locations and is modeled after Brazoria County Library System's successful Library of Things program.
Alternative Options:
To not expand the lending library program.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 5. Minimize the impa...
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