ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2003 CONTACT: Randy Nehrt CONTACT: Pat McGuckin

White Awards Library Training Grants to 15 Illinois Students

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that 15 university students from Illinois have been named recipients of 2003/2004 Illinois State Library Training Grants.

To promote quality library service in Illinois, the Secretary of State awards up to 15 training grants of $7,500 each to students who are enrolling in Masters degree programs in an accredited graduate library school. Recipients must be residents of Illinois, and are required to work for two years in an eligible Illinois library following graduation. Grant funding is provided to the state of Illinois from federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds.

"Illinois is among the nation's leaders in providing financial support for the education and training of librarians and information specialists," White said. "We actively recruit individuals and provide them with training grants to obtain a Master of Library and Information Sciences degree. This grant program has allowed more than 200 students to obtain the training necessary to become librarians and information specialists. Nearly all of these recipients have remained in Illinois, and most are currently working in public libraries throughout the state.

"This program ensures that Illinois libraries will continue to be staffed with individuals who are the most well educated and most highly qualified in their field. I congratulate this year's recipients and commend them for their interest in serving the public as future librarians."

White identified this year's recipients as:

• Debra Ann Aggertt of Ashland, who will pursue her MLS degree at Dominican University in River Forest.
• Sophia Penelope Anastos of Chicago, who will pursue her degree at the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee.
• Patricia Marie Conroy of Chicago, Dominican University.
• Maria Magdalena Cortez-Tafolla of Chicago, who will pursue her MLS degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Stephanie Ellen Edwards of Monticello, U of I U/C.
• Tamela Nicole James of Chicago, U of I U/C.
• Barbara Ellen Love of Canton, Dominican University.
• Elizabeth Marszalik of Villa Park, Dominican University.
• Sarah Marie McHone-Chase of Bloomington, U of I U/C.
• Jeanne Marie Meyer of Des Plaines, U of I U/C.
• Brian David Shepard of Arlington Heights, U of I U/C.
• Alexander Banning Sonsteby of Park Ridge, U of I U/C.
• Meghan Ellen Stillwell of Normal, U of I U/C.
• Jill A. Tarnowski of Grayslake, Dominican University.
• Angela Lynn Watson of Springfield, Dominican University.