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October 11, 2007

Pat McGuckin
Henry Haupt

White Honored By ILA For Support Of Libraries

SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Jesse White today received the prestigious Robert R. McClarren Legislative Development Award from the Illinois Library Association (ILA) for his support of libraries and his development of innovative programs benefiting libraries during nine years as State Librarian.

"My goal is to build off of our successes and to continue working to strengthen libraries statewide," said Secretary White. "The members of the ILA and the entire Illinois library community do an outstanding job of keeping our citizens informed, and I am proud to stand beside them in those efforts."

"Secretary White has compiled a stellar record of support for the more than 4,000 libraries in Illinois," said Bradley F. Baker, ILA President. "His accomplishments over his three terms as Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian have benefited academic, public, school and special libraries throughout the state."

Secretary White received the award at the ILA's annual conference in Springfield. The award is named for the longtime former director of the North Suburban Library System.

During his tenure as State Librarian, Secretary White has worked with the ILA and championed its agenda before the General Assembly, testifying on numerous occasions for and against bills affecting libraries. He has consistently supported the ILA's efforts to protect intellectual freedom and ensure local control of libraries.

Secretary White was honored for overseeing development at the Illinois State Library of many innovative new programs benefiting libraries, including:

• Development and enhancement of programs providing training opportunities and continuing education for librarians. These efforts include the widely praised revamping of LibraryU, a popular Web-based training initiative, and the recent development of WebJunction Illinois, an online community for librarians.
• Creation of Find-it! Illinois, the statewide digital library bringing Illinois information into one convenient web site for Internet users.
• Creation of the Statewide Illinois Library Catalog (SILC), a shared catalog combining all library holdings in Illinois into one searchable entity.
• Implementation of OCLC group services in Illinois, a pricing system that helps libraries manage budgets more effectively.
• Creation of the annual Synergy Library Leadership Institute to develop future library leaders.
• Increased pursuit of grants available outside of state government, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
• Creation of the Illinois Digital Archives to help preserve important documents for future generations.
• Consolidation of State Library literacy programs to make them more efficient and effective.
• Moving the State Library's Talking Book and Braille Service into a new facility and increasing membership in the Talking Book program to 27,000. White's efforts on behalf of TBBS resulted in the Talking Book service being named National Library of the Year in 2006.
• Creation of the Project Next Generation program, the first youth mentoring program to be operated by public libraries.
• Creation of the AskAway virtual reference program to better serve the reference needs of patrons.