SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced Thursday his office is awarding $2 million in new grants to assist public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, 113 public libraries are eligible to receive a grant – totaling an amount of either $27,500 or $12,500 – depending on the size of the population they serve. Several libraries in our area are eligible. Click here to see the complete list of eligible libraries.

To qualify, communities must be eligible for updated equalization aid grant funding – resulting from a low tax base – and have a high poverty rate. 

Because libraries receive most funding through property taxes, budgets are primarily determined by their local taxable base. Property values vary widely around the state, leaving some local libraries without needed funding to continue to provide essential services to their communities or to upgrade their technology infrastructure.

In applying for the grants, libraries are encouraged to consider the technology needs of constituents. They can use the 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, assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities, and incorporating patron self-checkouts. 

Libraries must file plans for use of grant funds by June 14 and projects can start as early as June 28. Libraries will have two years to spend the grant money.