NW Illinois News

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has announced that several library districts in the area will receive grant funding aimed at enhancing access to quality resources and programming. The grants include annual per capita funding and newly created one-time technology grants designed to help libraries upgrade their technology infrastructure.

Libraries throughout the 89th Legislative District are set to receive a combined total of $215,362 in grants.

“Libraries are essential to our communities and continue to be a great asset to residents,” said McCombie. “This funding will help libraries continue to be an asset to residents and bring them up to speed with technology and resources needed in this day and age.”

The grants were awarded across Illinois, as announced by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias. Public libraries can use the grant funding for operational needs, including purchasing materials for their collections and making capital improvements to their facilities.

Libraries have two years to utilize the technology grants for upgrades 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, incorporating patron self-checkouts, ensuring ADA compliance for websites, and acquiring adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities.