SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian
Jesse White today awarded more than 600 Illinois public
libraries a total of $13.3 million in Fiscal Year 2001 per
capita and equalization aid grants.
Per capita grants provide up to $1.25 per person based
upon the population served by eligible public libraries,
allowing the libraries to improve and increase essential
services. Equalization aid grants assist public libraries
in districts with a low tax base, and help ensure a minimum
level of funding for library services. Both per capita and
equalization aid grants may be used for any purpose but
construction needs.
"These grants, which are appropriated each year by the
General Assembly, will allow libraries both large and small
to add to their collections, enhance their technology and
provide a wider array of services to library patrons," White
said. "Many public libraries depend on this assistance for
essential needs."
White cited several examples of how public libraries
plan to use the grants:
- --After determining that as much as 15 percent of its
population is now of Hispanic descent and reads Spanish, the
Sterling Public Library will use part of its grant to
purchase additional bilingual and Spanish language
materials.
- --The Vernon Area Public Library District in
Lincolnshire will install six new Internet workstations to
meet public demand.
- --The Martinsville Public Library District will use a
portion of its funds to provide Internet training to
instruct the public about how to obtain information on the
Internet.
- --The Charleston Carnegie Public Library will use a
portion of its funds to open on Sunday with three staff
members on hand.
"Our public libraries are cornerstones of our
communities," said White. "Libraries provide educational
and recreational opportunities that enrich and enlighten the
lives of citizens young and old. I am committed to doing
all I can as State Librarian to keep our public libraries
strong and vibrant in the coming years."
A list of grants being awarded is available in PDF format below.
FY2001 Public Library Per Capita & Equalization Grants PDF
