CICERO, Ill. -- Illinois is investing $2 million into libraries across the state.Â
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the funding in a press conference on Thursday morning. The money will be divvied up as technology grants to 113 libraries in Illinois. Twenty-three are in our region.Â
The money targets underrepresented communities. Eligible libraries will receive either $27,500 or $12,500, depending on the size of its community. These libraries must qualify for equalization aid grant funding and have a high rate of poverty.Â
“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.�
The money will be used to purchase new hardware and software for the branches, as well as expand online databases, purchase digital devices and mobile apps, increase WiFi in the libraries, assure ADA compliance online, and obtain new technology that makes checkouts and online services more accessible to those with disabilities.Â
“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.�
Below is a full list of qualifying libraries. Libraries in our region have been bolded:Â
- 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
- 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 Pekinâ€�South Pekin Public Library—Â�$12,500Ìý
- 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�$12,500
