'V/fl~ «1/tt a PaJ'~ tt'tj tt11'tt a Fatfl.l"e ." 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, Alaska 99611-7794 _­ Telephone: (907) 283-7535 I Fax: (907) 283-3014 www.kenai.city MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Council THROUGH: Paul Ostrander, City Manager7. D . FROM: Mary L. Bondura ~ ~ DATE: January 12, 2018 \'ry SUBJECT: Action/Approval - Read on the Fly Program The Airport reached out to Erin Kirkland, founder and publisher of AKontheGO.com. requesting information on the Read on the Fly Program. This program places shelves with books in airport terminals to encourage children and their families to read when traveling throughout Alaska and farther. The program is already in place at Ted Stevens International, Fairbanks International, and Juneau and we would like to be next. Erica Shinn will be the Project Leader, Mary Jo Joiner has agreed to provide the books, and the Soldotna High School Shop will be constructing the bookshelf with the building supplies provided by the Airport. The program was reviewed at the January 11 , 2018, Airport Commission meeting and Commission unanimously recommended Council approve the Read on the Fly Program at the Kenai Airport. Does Council recommend the City Manager enter into an agreement with the Read on the Fly Program at the Kenai Municipal Airport? Attachments AKONTHEGO'S READ ON THE FLY PROJECT EAD f~ FLY Supported in part by Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Alaska Airlines, with fiscal sponsorship by Best Beginnings Alaska The following information is meant to provide guidance for donors and volunteers to support efforts of AKontheGO's Read On the Fly program to promote books and reading during travel. WHO? Read On the Fly strives to encourage reading at any age, but the program is structured to provide books for children age 0-18. WHY? The Annie E. Casey Foundation reported in a 2014 study that 73% of Alaska 4th grade students are not proficient in reading; and 64% of young children are not attending preschool programs*. Another 2014 report by the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services states that "Children who enter school with a basic knowledge of math and reading are more likely than their peers to experience later academic success, attain higher levels of education, and secure employment."** WHAT? Hardbound and paperback books are welcome. At this time periodicals and activity books are accepted only if in pristine condition. All books will be inspected upon donation by Read On the Fly volunteers who will look for age-appropriate content and overall condition, then sort for storage at the Anchorage Airport. Each book will receive a label identifying it as part of the Read On the Fly program. Co­ branded stickers will be created upon agreement with a particular organization/entity in an area other than Anchorage. WHERE and WHEN? Currently, four areas of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport have been identified as reading areas: Alaska Airlines 'C' Concourse (1 shelf in Nursery) and the RavnAlaska/PenAir/Grant Aviation regional concourse. (1 shelf Ravn gates, 1 shelf Ravn ticketing, 1 shelf PenAir/Grant gates). On May 5, 2017, Fairbanks International Airport joined the Read On the Fly family with two shelves, one pre-security and one post-security. On June 10, 2017, Valdez Airport unveiled a bookshelf and "reading nook" near the airport baggage claim with multiple community supporters. On June 16, 2017, Ketchikan International Airport's dedicated team of volunteers created a colorful reading area post-security, and installed another visible bookshelf pre-security. On September 22, 2017, Ravn Alaska and Read On the Fly will launch a bookshelf in the Ravn Terminal of Bethel Airport, with support from local schools, community members, and a drumming/dance performance. HOW? Want to help? Here are some options: • Be a book donor! Inspect your bookshelves at home, attend garage sales, or browse the local thrift store. If books are in good condition (i.e. not missing pages, clean covers), then Read On the Fly will take them! • Give financially by purchasing new books and dropping them at a book site. or donating via Best Beginnings Alaska (the fiscal sponsor) https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/readonthefly • Become a volunteer! Read On the Fly also needs people to pick up, sort, and deliver books to AKontheGO's storage facility at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Fairbanks International Airport would also appreciate volunteers to pick up and sort books. Contact: Erin Kirkland, [email protected] *http://www.aecf.org/m/databook/2014KC profile AK.pdf **http://dhss.alaska.govI dph/wcfh/Documents/mchepi/pubs/ databook/M CHDataBook2014toweb .pdf - A I II> - , - J/ .J - c.. <( .>. '.) l \ "1 l.. I ~ --- -· ·-- ·- -.;.,, ~ .. ·- · -----~··------ · -- ~ . -°It- -------._ .. ) A I -- I I i ! : ! / l I I L -- Read On the Fly - Processes and Procedures Overview: Read On the Fly is a project developed by AKontheGO.com founder and publisher Erin Kirkland in 2016 to encourage reading by children and families traveling within the nation's airports. Books at ROtF shelves are free. At this time, the project is solely managed by a volunteer base. Procedures for new shelves: Establishing a ROtF shelf in any airport requires orchestration and cooperation among individual airport managers, concessions managers, leasing managers, AKontheGO, and the community-at-large. Follow the steps below to initiate a Read On the Fly at your airport. 1. Find a project leader; one person in your community willing to be the point of contact for all ROtF communications from the community, airport, and with Erin Kirkland. 2. Determine a consistent flow of books for children 0-18. The overarching goal of ROtF is to be constant and reliable with book replacements for shelves over a long­ term period of time. 3. Contact the airport manager. This usually can be found at the airport's website. If you have trouble, contact Erin Kirkland. Set up a meeting with the project lead and Erin Kirkland to discuss Read On the Fly, answer questions, and set up further meetings with appropriate airport personnel. 4. Identify space for a bookshelf within the airport. It is up to airport managers to determine whether this location will be pre or post-security. NOTE: If post-security is selected, then Erin Kirkland must be consulted on selection of the individual authorized for SIDA badging (Alaska airports only). 5. Determine how, and by who a bookshelf will be built. Consult with Erin Kirkland on specs to create a uniform style required for all ROtF shelves. Note: Construction of shelving is not provided by Read On the Fly at this time. 6. Consult with airport managers and Erin Kirkland to determine a launch date and launch party festivities. Invite local leaders, education advocates, school kids, or anyone else who may have a vested interest in Alaska literacy, families, or travel. 7. Pitch book donations and the project at local locations, service club meetings, etc. (or enlist Erin Kirkland to do so). Utilize materials offered by ROtF. 8. Create a hard copy calendar of book reviewing, restocking and cleaning. Record numbers of books placed on shelves. LAUNCH THE BOOKS! **All project leads to have a monthly phone conference with Erin Kirkland to discuss successes, challenges, and new ideas, and join FB ROtF page. [email protected] Erin Kirkland 907-575-3935 7/2016 Read On the Fly New Bookshelf Agreement Congratulations, and thank you for promoting childhood literacy through Read On the Fly! Your decision to construct and manage a Read On the Fly bookshelf at one of thousands of U.S. airports means kids aged 0-16 will be able to access age-appropriate books during and after their air travel experience. As you have indicated a desire to become an active part of this innovative project, below are important points that you, your group, or business should read before becoming a part of the Read On the Fly family. Once this form is signed and returned to Erin Kirkland ([email protected]), you will receive documents to help you set the project in motion and hopefully make the process smooth from start to finish. The parties agree to: • Use the Read On the Fly brand on all bookshelves, documents, presentations, and social media. The ROtF logo will be provided. If the project shelf is to be co-branded with another business or organization, that logo and brand should be installed in tandem with Read On the Fly. Shelves should be constructed to fit the location's environment in cooperation with local airport officials. • Be financially responsible for all materials, labor, installation, delivery, and repair costs of each Read On the Fly shelf built for the designated location. • Act as the local point of contact for airport management and business/community communications, with inclusion from the Read On the Fly main office. The individual/individuals who will be the point of contact is/are (add here, with phone/email): • Regularly visit bookshelves to restock and clean and take note of any repair needs. • Participate in monthly teleconferences with the Read On the Fly main office and other discussions within the Read On the Fly private Facebook group. • Disseminate media releases to local outlets and forward contact information from main office if a local spokesperson is not available. Assistance in developing media releases will be provided by Read On the Fly. • Read On the Fly agrees to list partners on the main website, and assist with all social media sharing as part of the co-branded effort. • Receive donations for local Read On the Fly projects if co-branded; receive donations to Read On the Fly/Best Beginnings if not co-branded with a legitimate 501 (c) 3 organization.