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RESOLUTION URGING THE CHILDREN�S TRUST TO SUPPORT CHILDREN�S LITERARY COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMMING GEARED TOWARD CHILDREN IN THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

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WHEREAS, the Mission of The Children�s Trust is to improve the lives of all children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their futures; and
WHEREAS, one of the areas of focus by The Children�s Trust in carrying out its Mission is to improve the quality and availability of programs that raise reading and literacy skills in children during early learning years and in summer and out-of-school programs; and
WHEREAS, from its inception, The Children�s Trust has been a major supporter of literacy programming that keeps children and youth safe, supervised, and academically challenged; and
WHEREAS, libraries are an important resource for parents and children, where their children can go after school to study, do their homework, read a book, and utilize research materials and resources like the internet in their academic pursuits; and
WHEREAS, libraries are also community centers for families where children can be engaged with reading books, good music, good magazines, good movies, and good research as opposed to finding refuge in shopping malls and in the streets with dangers and multiple other social problems; and
WHEREAS, historically Miami-Dade County has funded the operation of all libraries within the Miami-Dade Library District, however, during current difficult economic times funding cuts made to the Miami-Dade County Public Library System may result in the reduction of services, thereby negatively impacting services to children and families in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, it is urged that children are our community�s future, and funding geared toward supporting some libraries to become children�s libraries to house children literary collections and provide programming geared toward children would be an investment in education and literacy for all of our children and their future; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County families and children need The Children�s Trust to support children�s literary collections, provide programming and services geared toward children and families which support the Miami-Dade Public Library System; and
WHEREAS, without the support of The Children�s Trust these programs will not be available to fully service the needs of children and families in Miami-Dade County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges The Children�s Trust to provide funding to support children�s literary collections and to provide programming for children and families.
Section 2. Urges The Children�s Trust to enter into discussions with the Mayor, or the Mayor�s designee, regarding the level of support toward Miami-Dade County Library System for the benefit of children and families in Miami-Dade County, to provide an important resource for parents and children and where children can go after school to study, do their homework, read a book, and utilize research materials and resources like the internet in their academic pursuits.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Chair and members of The Children�s Trust board and the Executive Director of The Children�s Trust.