School libraries receive $1.4 million in state grants

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to school district libraries. The awards to 649 schools will reach more than 1.5 million students served by school library media programs.

“As a former public school teacher and administrator, I know our school libraries are very important in helping students learn and prepare themselves for the future,” White said in a news release. “Illinois was the first state to implement a school district grant program, and I’m pleased that we can continue to provide school libraries with some of the financial resources they need to produce well educated students.”

The grants can be used to acquire fiction and/or non-fiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources. It can also be used to purchase new computers or improve wi-fi.

Here is a list of awards by county:

Lee County: Amboy CUSD 272 $850, Ashton-Franklin Center CUSD 275 $850, Dixon CUSD 170 $2,232.86, Paw Paw CUSD 271 $850, Steward Elementary School District 220 $850.

Whiteside County: Erie CUSD 1 $850, Morrison CUSD 6, $853.14, Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUD 3 $850, River Bend CUD 2 $850, Rock Falls Township High School 301 $850, Rock Falls Elementary School District 13 $850, Sterling CUSD $2,770.94.

Ogle County: Byron CUSD 226 $1,286.79, Eswood CCSD 269 $850, Kings CSD 144 $850, Meridian CUSD 15 $850, Oregon CUSD 220 $1,188.56, Polo CUSD 222 $850, Rochelle Elementary District 231 $1,280.60, Rochelle Township High School District 212 $850.

Carroll County: Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD 399 $850, Eastland CUSD 308 $850, West Carroll CUSD 314 $850.