Giannoulias Awarding $2 Million in Library Tech Grants to Underserved Communities

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is awarding $2 million in new grants to assist public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements, Secretary and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced today.
 
According to the Secretary of State’s office, 113 public libraries are eligible to receive a grant – totaling an amount of either $27,500 or $12,500 – depending on the size of the population they serve. View a list of eligible libraries
 
“Libraries play a significant role in our communities, so it’s imperative that they evolve to meet the needs of residents and expand their offerings, particularly when it comes to technology,” Giannoulias said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all communities, regardless of their location or wealth, have access to the best library programming beyond just written materials. These grants will help narrow digital divides.”
 
To qualify, communities must be eligible for updated equalization aid grant funding – resulting from a low tax base – and have a high poverty rate.
 
Giannoulias made the announcement today at the Cicero Public Library, alongside Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and State Representative Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez (2nd House District).
 
“Our libraries provide a place for every Illinoisan to make connections with their community and to think, learn and explore new ideas,” García said. “I’m excited to see how our libraries use this technology grant funding to expand opportunities for our residents, increase access to information and help our communities thrive.”

“Continuing to provide libraries with diverse resources whether printed or digitally, we’re making a priceless investment into our communities, especially those that are underserved,” Hernandez said. “I’m excited to see the positive impact of this funding on our communities that need it most.”

“Libraries throughout the state provide a wide range of services to their residents and need technology to make educational resources and knowledge accessible for families,” State Senator Javier Cervantes said. “I appreciate the Secretary’s continued dedication in ensuring residents have the resources they need, and I look forward to our continued partnership.”
 
“Bolstering our technology will help us fulfill our mission of providing information, materials and services to our residents while fostering diversity and a passion for lifelong learning,” said Sandra Tomschin with Cicero Public Library. “This grant funding will have a tremendous impact helping us bridge the digital divide and best serve our residents.”
 
Because libraries receive most funding through property taxes, budgets are primarily determined by their local taxable base. Property values vary widely around the state, leaving some local libraries without needed funding to continue to provide essential services to their communities or to upgrade their technology infrastructure.
 
In applying for the grants, libraries are encouraged to consider the technology needs of constituents. They can use the grants to help fund things such as adding hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, increasing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities, and incorporating patron self-checkouts.
 
Libraries must file plans for use of grant funds by June 14 and projects can start as early as June 28.  Libraries will have two years to spend the grant money. 

List of libraries eligible for tech grant funding: Abingdon—John Mosser Public Library District—$12,500 Avon—Village of Avon Public Library— $12,500 Barry—Barry Public Library—$12,500 Beardstown—Beardstown Houston Memorial Public Library—$12,500 Belleville—Belleville Public Library—$27,500 Benld—Frank Bertetti Benld Public Library— $12,500 Benton—Benton Public Library District— $27,500 Blue Island—Blue Island Public Library— $27,500 Cahokia Heights—Cahokia Public Library District—$27,500 Cairo—Cairo Public Library—$12,500 Calumet City—Calumet City Public Library— $27,500 Calumet Park—Calumet Park Public Library—$12,500 Canton—Parlin-Ingersoll Public Library— $27,500 Carlinville—Carlinville Public Library— $12,500 Carmi—Carmi Public Library—$12,500 Carrier Mills—Carrier Mills-Stonefort Public Library District—$12,500 Centralia—Centralia Regional Library District—$27,500 Charleston—Charleston Carnegie Public Library— $27,500 Chester—Chester Public Library— $12,500 Chicago Heights—Chicago Heights Public Library—$27,500 Chrisman—Chrisman Public Library— $12,500 Christopher—Christopher Public Library— $12,500 Cicero—Cicero Public Library—$27,500 Colchester—Colchester District Library— $12,500 Coulterville—Coulterville Public Library $12,500 Cowden—Dry Point Township Library— $12,500 Cutler—Cutler Public Library—$12,500 Danville—Danville Public Library—$27,500 Decatur—Decatur Public Library— $27,500 DePue—Selby Township Library District— $12,500 Dixmoor—Dixmoor Public Library District $12,500 Dolton—Dolton Public Library District— $27,500 Dongola—Dongola Public Library District— $12,500 Du Quoin—Du Quoin Public Library— $12,500 East Saint Louis—East Saint Louis Public Library— $27,500 Eldorado—Eldorado Memorial Public Library District— $12,500 Evansville—Evansville Public Library— $12,500 Fairfield—Fairfield Public Library— $12,500 Farmer City—Farmer City Public Library— $12,500 Flora—Flora Public Library—$12,500 Freeport—Freeport Public Library—$27,500 Galesburg—Galesburg Public Library— $27,500 Georgetown—Georgetown Public Library— $12,500 Gillespie—Gillespie Public Library—$12,500 Golconda—Golconda Public Library— $12,500 Grayville—Groff Memorial Public Library— $12,500 Greenfield—Greenfield Public Library— $12,500 Greenville—Greenville Public Library— $12,500 Harrisburg—Harrisburg Public Library District—$27,500 Harvey—Harvey Public Library District— $27,500 Hazel Crest—Grande Prairie Public Library District—$27,500 Herrin—Herrin City Library—$27,500 Hopkins Park—Pembroke Public Library District—$12,500 Johnston City—Johnston City Public Library— $12,500 Jonesboro—Jonesboro Public Library— $12,500 Justice—Justice Public Library District— $27,500 Kankakee—Kankakee Public Library— $27,500 Kewanee—Kewanee Public Library District— $27,500 Kinmundy—Kinmundy Public Library— $12,500 Lacon—Lacon Public Library District— $12,500 Lanark—Lanark Public Library—$12,500 Lansing—Lansing Public Library—$27,500 LaSalle—LaSalle Public Library—$12,500 Lawrenceville—Lawrence Public Library District— $27,500 Lincoln—Lincoln Public Library District— $27,500 Macomb—Macomb Public Library District— $27,500 Madison—Madison Public Library— 12,500.00 Markham—Markham Public Library— $27,500 Maywood—Maywood Public Library District—$27,500 McLeansboro—McCoy Memorial Library— $12,500 Melvin—Melvin Public Library $12,500 Mounds—Mounds Public Library—$12,500 Mount Carmel—Mount Carmel Public Library—$12,500 Mount Morris—Mount Morris Public Library— $12,500 Mount Olive—Mount Olive Public Library— $12,500 Murphysboro—Sallie Logan Public Library— $12,500 North Chicago—North Chicago Public Library—$27,500 Pana—Carnegie-Schuyler Library— $12,500 Paris—Paris Carnegie Public Library— $12,500 Park Forest—Park Forest Public Library— $27,500 Phoenix—Phoenix Public Library District— $12,500 Pinckneyville—Pinckneyville Public Library $12,500 Ramsey—Ramsey Public Library—$12,500 Rantoul—Rantoul Public Library—$27,500 Riverdale—Riverdale Public Library District— $27,500 Robbins—William Leonard Public Library District— $12,500 Rock Falls—Rock Falls Public Library District—$27,500 Rockford—Rockford Public Library— $27,500 Roodhouse—Roodhouse Public Library— $12,500 Rosiclare—Rosiclare Memorial Public Library—$12,500 Royalton—Royalton Public Library District— $12,500 Rushville—Rushville Public Library—$12,500 Sauk Village—Nancy L. McConathy Public Library District—$12,500 Sesser—Sesser Public Library—$12,500 Shawneetown—Shawneetown Public Library— $12,500 Sheffield—Sheffield Public Library— $12,500 South Pekin—South Pekin Public Library— $12,500 Sparta—Sparta Public Library—$12,500 Steger—Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library District—$27,500 Sterling—Sterling Public Library—$27,500 Streator—Streator Public Library—$27,500 Sun River Terrace—Sun River Terrace Public Library District—$12,500 Tilden—Tilden Public Library—$12,500 Toluca—Toluca Public Library District— $12,500 Vandalia—Evans Public Library District— $27,500 Venice—Venice Public Library—$12,500 Vienna—Vienna Carnegie Public Library— $12,500 Virginia—Virginia Memorial Public Library— $12,500 Watseka—Watseka Public Library— $12,500 Wenona—Bond Public Library—$12,500 West Frankfort—West Frankfort Public Library—$12,500 Winchester—Winchester Public Library— $12,500 Zeigler—Zeigler Public Library—$