Carroll, Ogle county libraries among state grant recipients

SAVANNA – State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, has announced that several area library districts are receiving grant funding to help ensure all residents have access to quality resources and programming.

The grants included annual per-capita grant funding and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need upgrade their technology infrastructure.

Libraries throughout the 89th Congressional District are receiving a combined $215,362 in grants.

“Libraries are essential to our communities and continue to be a great asset to residents,” McCombie said. “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 throughout Illinois and announced by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias for the following libraries:

• Byron, $11,670
• Chadwick, $1,375
• East Dubuque, $6,244
• Elizabeth Township, $1,496
• Forreston, $2,130
• Galena, $6,709
• Genoa, $7,815
• Hanover Township, $1,786
• Kirkland, $2,450
• Lanark, $14,733
• Bertolet (Leaf River), $2,144
• Lena Community, $7,539
• Milledgeville, $2,753
• Mount Carroll, $3,834
• Mt. Morris, $16,748
• Oregon, $9,070
• Pearl City, $3,611
• Pecatonica, $8,185
• Polo, $3,997
• Savanna, $5,565
• Julia Hull (Stillman Valley), $11,912
• Stockton, $3,388
• York Township (Thomson), $4,068
• Warren Township, $2,202
• Winnebago, $10,839
• Freeport, $63,099

The public libraries can use grant funding for operational needs, including buying materials for their library collections and capital improvements to their facilities.

Libraries have two years to use the technology grants to help fund technology 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 Americans With Disabilities Act compliance for library websites, and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for people with disabilities.