More than $1.3 million has been awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries, thanks to Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias. These annual grants support library resources for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, including books, e-books, technology, and multilingual materials. Funding is calculated at $0.885 per enrolled student and aims to enrich educational opportunities across the state. School librarians say the grants are vital, particularly in districts where this is the only funding available for library materials. State leaders emphasized that this investment helps inspire and educate future generations of Illinois students. Find the full list here.
Includes the following area schools:
- Annawan – $850
- Cambridge – $850
- Colona – $850
- Galva – $850
- Geneseo – $2,078.87
- Kewanee Wethersfield – $850
- Kewanee CUSD 229 – $1,564.68
- Orion – $850
- Woodhull – $850
- Galesburg – $3,217.86
- LaSalle-Peru – $989.43
- Macomb – $1,593
- Morrison – $850
- Princeton Elementary – $850
- Princeton High – $850
- Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico – $850
- Sterling – $2,624.91
- Bureau Valley – $850.00
- Mendota CCSD 289 – $850.00
- Mendota High SD 280 – $850.00
“Illinois students deserve to have access to quality library resources, including learning materials, books and online services at our public schools,” Giannoulias said. “Libraries serve as places of knowledge, learning and discovery and this funding will help equip them to educate and inspire our future generations.”
“The school district library grant is an investment into the futures of all Illinois students. With this funding, library staff provide a rich array of materials, including books, online resources, and technology, to meet the educational needs and spark the interests of all K-12 students in all areas of our state,” said Chiddix and Evans Junior High School Librarian and Illinois Library Association Executive Board Director-at-Large Michelle Glatt. “We appreciate and commend Illinois leaders, especially Secretary of State and State Librarian Giannoulias, for their commitment to school libraries and the young people they serve.”
“Throughout Illinois, school librarians are thankful to receive these grants from Secretary Giannoulias to improve our libraries,” said Jacob Roskovensky, Danville School District Librarian and President of The Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE), which provides leadership and support for the development, promotion, and improvement of school libraries. “In some districts, this funding is the sole source of revenue to purchase books. These grants allow school librarians to continue to bolster their educational offerings, ensuring that all Illinois students have opportunities to learn.”
“These grants are a great win for our students, educators, and communities,” said Senator Arellano. “School libraries are more than just books, they’re learning hubs that promote literacy, access to technology, and academic achievement. I’m proud to see our local schools receiving these important funds to strengthen those resources.”
