MOKENA, IL…. The Illinois State Library (ISL) recently announced the recipients of this year’s Public Library Per Capita Grants. The grants, awarded each fiscal year, allocate funds to help public libraries provide high-quality services and maintain an up-to-date collection of literature and digital resources. Following the announcement, State Representative Patrick Sheehan (R-Lockport) expressed his appreciation for the grants his 37th District was awarded and emphasized the importance of supporting Illinois public libraries.
“Our residents deserve access to the best library materials and programming available and providing these grants will ensure just that,” said Rep. Sheehan. “With these grants, our local libraries will be able to purchase new books and technology while increasing accessibility. I am thrilled that the people of the 37th District, especially our younger residents, will be better equipped to grow and learn thanks to these new grants.”
Libraries must apply each year and meet Illinois Public Library Standards in order to receive Public Library Per Capita grants, which allocate funds based on the number of residents a library district serves. This year, the Illinois State Library awarded PLPC grants to three libraries in the 37th District, being the Homer Township Public Library, Mokena Community Public Library, and New Lenox Public Library. In total, the three libraries were awarded nearly $150,000 to help expand their collections, upgrade software programs, and increase accessibility to better serve their communities.
| Homer Township Public Library District | $60,527.12 |
| Mokena Community Public Library District | $29,610.90 |
| New Lenox Public Library District | $59,539.59 |
“Congratulations to the libraries in the 37th District for receiving these significant awards and for the impact you have on so many Illinoisans,” Sheehan said. “I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Secretary of State’s office and the Illinois State Library for their continued support of our state’s public libraries and their commitment to constantly improving educational efforts in the state of Illinois.”
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You can learn more about the Public Library Per Capita grant program at: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/library/grants/plpc_equalization.html