Lake County Gazette

Libraries throughout the 51st and 52nd House Districts, serving over 242,000 people, are receiving a combined $360,595 in grants.

“I am proud to support libraries receiving additional funding that will help our families access information and community programs,” said State Representative Martin McLaughlin (52nd District—Barrington Hills). “These grants will allow our libraries to increase their collections, improve their technology and ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities.”

The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita and equalization aid grant funding, public library construction grants, and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need upgrade their technology infrastructure.

Public Library Per Capita Grants are awarded annually to support local public library services. This year, public libraries received just under $1.50 per person in their service area. Public libraries can use this funding for operational needs, including purchasing materials for their library collections and capital improvements to their facilities.

Equalization Aid funding is awarded under a statutory formula to provide a minimum level of funding when local funding through taxes is too low to meet the service population’s base needs.

Public Library Construction Grant funding allows libraries to address refurbishing and renovation of existing facilities; assure compliance with accessibility standards; and even build new facilities.

Under the new technology grant initiative, eligible public libraries were determined by review of their local tax base in comparison to the population that is served and also the poverty level of the community.

Libraries have two years to expend the technology 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, incorporating patron self-checkouts, assuring DA compliance for library websites, and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities.

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