Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias recently announced that library districts are receiving grant funding to help ensure all residents have access to quality resources and programming.
Northbrook Public Library is one of the libraries in the 29th Senate District, serving over 188,000 people, receiving a combined $450,550 in grants.
“Libraries throughout the state must have the resources and financial support they need to provide high-quality materials and programming to Illinois residents,” Giannoulias said. “Libraries serve as centers for lifelong learning and are critical to providing opportunities for children and adults to enrich their lives.”
Northbrook has been awarded $52,304, according to the release
“Our libraries are essential hubs that provide our community with access to information and help them broaden their knowledge,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (29th Senate District — Lake Forest). “By modernizing our libraries, we guarantee that they can adapt to the changing needs of our residents and continue to be indispensable resources for education.”
“Technology and WIFI access are crucially important, and our libraries provide access to residents who may not have it otherwise,” said State Representative Tracy Katz Muhl (57th House District — Northbrook). “These grants will enable our libraries to upgrade their technology infrastructure and expand collections so they can continue to provide customers exceptional service.”
The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita and equalization aid grant funding, public library construction grants and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need to upgrade their technology infrastructure, the release said.
Public Library Per Capita Grants are awarded annually to support local public library services, the release said. This year, public libraries received just under $1.50 per person in their service area. Public libraries can use this funding for operational needs, including purchasing materials for their library collections and capital improvements to their facilities.
Equalization Aid funding is awarded under a statutory formula to provide a minimum level of funding when local funding through taxes is too low to meet the service population’s base needs, the release said.
Public Library Construction Grant funding allows libraries to address refurbishing and renovation of existing facilities; assure compliance with accessibility standards; and even build new facilities.
According to the release, under the new technology grant initiative, eligible public libraries were determined by a review of their local tax base compared to the population served and the community’s poverty level.
Libraries have two years to expend the technology grants to help fund things such as adding hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, increasing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, incorporating patron self-checkouts, and assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities, the release said.
