ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2000 CONTACT: Dave Druker PHONE:  (217) 782-5984                 (312) 814-3175 or CONTACT: Randy Nehrt PHONE:  (217) 782-5984 TTY:      1-800-252-2904

Secretary White Announces Grants to Draw Teens to Libraries

SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White today announced that 25 Illinois libraries will receive more than $375,000 in grants to develop pilot innovative projects to attract teens and pre-teens to libraries.

Public libraries, schools and library systems will use grants of up to $25,000 to create activities that encourage writing and reading in after school programs, homework assistance, the use of reading/writing chat rooms, evening events and shared technology training between young and senior library users. Mentoring and outreach are required components of each grant.

A wide variety of projects are planned throughout the state. "What Kids Want Their Parents to Know About the World Wide Web" is the subject of a video in production by young adults at the Bensenville Community Library. Based on suggestions by students, the Clay City School District is offering non-threatening peer tutoring, the addition of music to the library, raffles and field trips to book stores as part of its seven step plan to encourage library usage. At libraries in Gurnee and Mt. Vernon, coffee house settings, reminiscent of the 50's and 60's, will give teens the opportunity to read and hear poetry and participate in open mike activities.

The federally funded grants, administered by the Illinois State Library, are available through a set aside program that is part of the one year Library Services and Technology Act program.

FY2000 LSTA Teen Grants

City		Institution			Grant Amount

Bensenville	Bensenville Community 
		Public Library District		$24,000.00
Burbank		Prairie Trails Public Library District	$1,135.00
Cahokia	 	Public Library District		$25,000.00
Carthage		Carthage Public 
		Library District			$4,000.00
Chicago Ridge	Chicago Ridge Public Library		$25,000.00
Clay City		Clay City CUSD #10			$15,970.00
Dixon		Dixon Public Library			$8,500.00
Dongola		Dongola Public 
		Library District			$11,930.00
Fulton		River Bend Community 
		Unit District #2			$25,000.00
Geneva		DuPage Library System			$25,000.00
Gurnee		Warren-Newport Public 
		Library District			$6,560.00
LaGrange Park	LaGrange Park Public 
		Library District			$4,612.00
Lanark		Lanark Public Library			$3,800.00
Mascoutah		Mascoutah Public Library		$10,900.00
Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon Township HSD #201		$25,000.00
Oak Park		Oak Park Public Library		$16,552.00
Orland Park	Orland Park Public Library		$17,800.00
Park Forest	Park Forest Public Library		$19,311.00
Peoria		Peoria Public Library			$17,060.00
Quincy		Quincy Public Library			$7,185.00
Roselle		Roselle Public Library		$5,233.00
Tremont		Tremont District Library		$5,100.00
Urbana		Urbana Free Library			$24,970.00
Warrensburg	Barclay Public Library 		$25,000.00
Waukegan		Waukegan Community Unit
		School District 60			$25,000.00
					 Total= 		$379,618.00