MARSHALL, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— The Secretary of State for Illinois is awarding over $1,000,000 in grants to give libraries in underserved communities technological enhancements.
88 public libraries in the state of Illinois, including two in the Wabash Valley, are receiving either a $27,500 grant or a $12,500 grant, depending on the size of the community. Marshall and West Union, Illinois, are the two Wabash Valley areas expected to receive funds. West Union District Library and Marshall Public Library are expected to receive $12,500.
“Libraries play a significant role in our communities, providing a place for every Illinoisan to connect, learn and explore,” Giannoulias said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all libraries, regardless of their community’s location or wealth, have the resources to meet the needs of residents and expand their offerings, particularly when it comes to technology.”
To qualify for the funds, the libraries had to have a low tax base about the population in the area they serve. When applying for the grants, they were encouraged to consider the technological needs of those in the community.
The grant money can be used for adding hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices, mobile apps, increasing wi-fi capacity/internet availability, assuring ADA compliance for library websites, purchasing adaptive technology to assist persons with disabilities, or incorporating self-checkouts for patrons.
Libraries receive most of their funding through property taxes, and because of this, budgets are primarily determined by their local tax base. Because of this, some local libraries don’t have the funding to continue to provide services to their community or upgrade their technological infrastructure due to the varying property values throughout Illinois. Last year, 113 libraries were given similar funding, and the 88 this year are the next round. All the libraries will have a total of two years to spend the money.
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