ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY
Read for a Lifetime
Read for a Lifetime, sponsored by Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian, and the Illinois Center for Book, is the first statewide reading program to target high school students, was designed to promote the enjoyment of reading by encouraging students to read both classic and contemporary literature, and rewarding them for their effort. By participating in Read for a Lifetime, students develop a love of books and reading that will last a lifetime.
Program Requirements
- Illinois high schools participating in the program receive a list of 25 book titles, which represents a mixture of classic and contemporary literature.
- Each student who reads at least four titles from the posted reading list during the school year will receive a certificate of achievement signed by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.
- Blind or visually impaired students may work with their local Reading for a Lifetime coordinator to substitute those titles unavailable in Braille or Talking Books. To avoid any confusion on the final completion form, please identify those students and list the substituted title(s).
- Print or type the name and current grade level of each student when completing the Student Participation Form. Please circle the name of any senior who is participating in the program for the fourth consecutive year.
- The deadline for submitting the School/Library Participation Form was November 2, 2012.
- In order to process and issue certificates in a timely manner, the Final Reporting Form must be returned to the State Library no later than April 12, 2013.
- All forms can be sent via U.S. mail, fax, or email to:
Jeanne Urbanek
Illinois State Library
300 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1796
217-524-0050
Email: jurbanek@ilsos.net
Read for a Lifetime Reading List and Participation Forms
- 2013-2014 Reading List
- School/Library Participation Form
- Student Participation Form
- Final Reporting Form
Program Statistics
- During the first 14 years of the program 16,711 students and 100 adults from more than 530 high schools and public libraries throughout Illinois have read 74,118 books.
- 348 high school seniors have received special recognition for having completed the program requirements during all four years of high school.
- 73 students have read all 25 books and to date, one student completed the program all four years, and read all 25 books each year.
- 2 high school seniors have received special recognition from Secretary of State Jesse White for competing the program requirements all four years, by reading all 25 titles each year.