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October 8, 2004

Pat McGuckin
Randy Nehrt

White Awards Training Grants To 15 Future Librarians

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that 15 students from Illinois have been named recipients of 2004/2005 Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Training Grants.

To encourage students to make the library profession a career, and to promote quality library service in Illinois, the Secretary of State may award 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 Illinois residents and must work for two years following graduation in an eligible Illinois library. Grant funding is provided to the state of Illinois from federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds awarded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

"Illinois is among the nation's leaders in providing financial support to educate and train future librarians and information specialists," White said. "We actively recruit students 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.

"The Training Grant 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 cited several examples of creative programs that will be funded by FY2005 LSTA grants:

• Pamela Cardenas of Chicago, who will pursue her MLS degree at Dominican University in River Forest.
• Lisa Jennifer Chellman of Chicago, who will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Karen Diane Dini of Addison, Dominican University
• Jane Elizabeth Easterly of Champaign, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Francis Joseph Fitzanko of Peoria, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Margaret Lois Hommel of Macomb, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Patrice Monique Johnson of Chicago, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Claudia Miller Krauspe of Wheaton, Dominican University
• Sarah Lynn Laaker of Quincy, Dominican University
• Sarah Elizabeth Morris of Chicago, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Carrie Anne Nelson of Naperville, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Katherine Jeanne Nolan of Glen Ellyn, University of Maryland
• Carolyn Jean Sanford of Decatur, U of I at Urbana/Champaign
• Linda Carol Tassone of Deerfield, Texas Woman's University
• Karen Denise Toonen of Bolingbrook, U of I at Urbana/Champaign