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- Written by: California State Library
In the current fiscal year, the State Library received $15,705,702 in funding to assist local
California libraries provide programs and services, as well as supporting the services provided by the State Library to state government, policymakers, and the public.
Over 21 percent of that funding has yet to be sent to California.
“We are deeply disappointed by this ill-informed decision, which immediately affects critical programs supported by these funds,” said California Deputy State Librarian Rebecca Wendt. “The California State Library remains committed to serving all of the people of California and will explore alternative means to ensure continued access to essential library services.”
The Library Services and Technology Act,or LSTA, has provided critical funding for a wide range of programs that benefit communities across California.
These funds support early learning and literacy programs, such as storytimes and play spaces for low-income families, summer reading initiatives that engage over a million children and teens, and programs that help at-risk youth develop workforce-readiness skills.
Additionally, LSTA funds have enabled State Library staff to assist with the expansion of the Student Success Card program, ensuring that all California students receive a public library card by third grade.
Beyond literacy, LSTA funding strengthens communities by supporting diverse programs that align with California’s cultural, educational, and environmental priorities.
Local libraries have used these funds to create climate education programs, community gardens, tool libraries, and telehealth privacy pods for individuals without home internet access.
Libraries also provide valuable services for veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and tribal and rural communities. High-speed broadband initiatives, along with programs like California Revealed and the Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Program, ensure that California’s history and cultural treasures are preserved and accessible to the public.
LSTA funding also expands access to learning resources for Californians of all ages. It supports the state’s only shared eBook collection, free access to major news publications like The New York Times and CalMatters for Learning, and databases that serve state employees, lawmakers and the general public.
The Career Online High School program, supported by State Library staff, enables adults to earn their high school diplomas through local libraries, while the Braille and Talking Book Library ensures that visually impaired Californians have free access to books in accessible formats.
Additionally, these funds help strengthen California’s library workforce through statewide training, leadership development, and tuition reimbursement for those studying to become librarians.
Libraries also benefit from partnerships with state agencies, including the Departments of Aging, Public Health, and Technology, which allow public libraries to serve as vital hubs for government resources and community engagement.
Moreover, LSTA funds support programs that promote government transparency, such as cataloging and maintaining access to federal and state government documents.
From fostering literacy and lifelong learning to preserving history and expanding digital access, LSTA funding plays an essential role in ensuring that California’s libraries remain innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities they serve.
The California State Library said it will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.
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- Written by: Christopher Veach
From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are vital to thriving communities.
National Library Week, celebrated April 6 to 12, highlights the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination and support lifelong learning.
At Lake County Library, we invite you to join the celebration! Whether you're a longtime patron or haven't visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all we have to offer.
Our libraries provide storytimes for kids, books, eBooks, DVDs, audiobooks, crafting clubs and even seed libraries to help you start a garden.
No matter your interests, we offer resources that educate, inspire and connect.
Libraries serve as hubs for learning and creativity. Whether you're preparing for a career change, launching a business, raising a family, or embracing retirement, the library supports your journey.
We offer public computers, free WiFi, and tech assistance every Tuesday during Tech Tuesday, along with a variety of online learning resources available on our website.
Our Adult Literacy program can even help adults and families build their literacy skills, or learn English, with one-on-one sessions with a volunteer tutor.
This National Library Week, rediscover all that your library has to offer. Visit one of our four branches in Lakeport, Clearlake, Middletown and Upper Lake, or stop by the bookmobile!
First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country.
For more information about resources and events at Lake County Library, visit https://library.lakecountyca.gov.
Christopher Veach is the Lake County librarian.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
SB 48, authored by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-33), is sponsored by Thurmond to address safety concerns of immigrant families and protect school funding that is projected to decline in some parts of the state as attendance is suppressed as undocumented individuals fear deportation consequences at school.
The bill is in direct protest to President Trump’s threats to lead mass deportation efforts at schools and houses of worship.
“We know that the fearmongering happening across our nation has disruptive impacts on children in our immigrant families, and it could cost California schools millions of dollars,” Thurmond said.
California is one of a handful of states that still uses an average daily attendance system for attributing funding or the loss of funding to schools.
Approximately half of all students in California are members of immigrant families, in which at least one parent is an immigrant.
One in five students in California live in mixed-status families, in which one or more parents are undocumented.
“All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning, regardless of immigration status,” said Gonzalez. “As chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to be partnering with Superintendent Tony Thurmond to author this important legislation, which will prevent disruptions to student learning, keep children in school, and prevent families from being torn apart.”
Thurmond has called on federal policymakers to create a path to citizenship where undocumented immigrants, who are estimated to generate billions in state revenue through earnings, can take on hard-to-fill jobs and pay into the tax system.
Thurmond and the California Department of Education are leading numerous efforts to push back on Trump policies and executive orders, including leading a plan to block the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education.
SB 48 was heard on Wednesday, April 2, in the California Senate Education Committee.
A recording of the Superintendent’s testimony on April 2 is available on the California State Senate website.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday unveiled the Master Plan for Career Education to strengthen career pathways, prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills, and advance educational access and affordability.
In a meeting at Modesto Junior College, Gov. Newsom received the Master Plan, which provides a framework to respond to the complex challenges facing California’s labor market and education landscape and prepare all learners for the ever-changing workforce.
The plan, supported by proposed budget investments, will make it easier for Californians to receive college credit for their real-world experience — including veterans.
With strategic input from agencies and community members, two central themes emerged to guide the creation of the Master Plan: enhance coordination and address structural barriers that make it difficult for Californians to navigate education, workforce training, and public benefit systems.
By designing systems so they are inherently accessible to all learners regardless of their varied needs and circumstances, California can simultaneously expand access for a wide variety of learners and free up resources to provide more customized support for specific populations.
The Governor’s January Budget includes several proposals that stem from the Master Plan.
“The Master Plan lays out a clear path to help all Californians — whether just starting out or switching careers — access high-paying, fulfilling jobs, with or without a college degree. By aligning our education system with real workforce needs, we’re powering economic growth and creating stronger communities,” said Newsom.
Career passports and credit for prior learning
To help Californians better showcase their skills, the state will launch Career Passports — a digital tool that combines academic records with verified experience from work, military service, training programs and more.
This skills-based record will help shift hiring away from degree-only requirements and open up more good jobs for workers of all backgrounds.
The plan also invests in expanding Credit for Prior Learning, or CPL, allowing veterans and working Californians to turn real-world experience into college credit.
This statewide push is expected to benefit 250,000 people — including 30,000 veterans — and generate billions in long-term economic gains by speeding up time to degree and cutting costs.
Together, these efforts help Californians get credit for what they already know — and put that knowledge to work.
Stronger state and regional coordination
To make career pathways more effective, the Master Plan calls for a new statewide collaborative to align education, training, and hiring needs. This body will help track labor market trends, reduce duplication, and build smarter workforce strategies.
Locally, the plan supports stronger regional partnerships — expanding paid internships, streamlining funding, and engaging employers to identify in-demand skills. The goal: create seamless, real-world pathways from the classroom to the job site.
You can read the full Master Plan below.
The history of the plan
In the 1960s, California’s Master Plan for Higher Education established a clear structure for its postsecondary systems (Community Colleges, CSU, and UC), based on a labor market requiring minimal formal education. However, as the 21st century has progressed, California's economy has evolved.
To meet the demands of a rapidly changing workforce, including the rise of artificial intelligence, educational institutions must adapt and develop strategies that support continuous upskilling throughout students' careers.
In recognition of this, in August 2023, Gov. Newsom launched a new way forward through the Freedom to Succeed Executive Order.
The culmination of those efforts, the Master Plan for Career Education provides a strategy for responding to the complex, multifaceted challenges confronting California’s labor market and educational landscape.
It acknowledges the shifting demographics of college attendees and the changing nature of work — with automation and artificial intelligence reshaping job categories and skill requirements — and provides flexibility to address new challenges that will emerge in the future. The statewide effort has been led by a public-private partnership with philanthropy.
The initial framework for the Master Plan was first released in December at Shasta Community College.
2025 CA Master Plan for Career Education by LakeCoNews on Scribd
