ALTON — Many school districts in the area will receive an injection of funding thanks to a state program designed to support school library services.
The most funds locally are allotted to Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7, which will receive $6,196.82; Alton Community Unit School District 11, which is in line for $4,755.75; and Granite City Community Unit School District 9, set to receive $4,818.83.
Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias is awarding more than $1.4 million to qualifying public school districts to the benefit of 2,713 school libraries throughout Illinois, according to a press release.
The grants, awarded once every fiscal year, will support school library services for 1.2 million students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. Resources and services provided through the grant include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.
Other school districts in the area that will receive funds include:
• Brighton: Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 for $1,012.44.
• Bunker Hill: Bunker Hill Community Unit School District 8 for $850.
• Carlinville: Carlinville Community School District 1 for $1,088.82.
• Carrollton: Carrollton Community Unit District 1 for $850.
• Collinsville: Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 for $3,242.07.
• Gillespie: Gillespie Community Unit School District 7 for $944.47.
• Hardin: Calhoun Community Unit School District 40 for $850.
• Highland: Highland Community Unit School District 5 for $2,348.79.
• Jerseyville: Jersey Community Unit School District 100 for $1,969.13.
• Madison: Madison Community Unit School District 12 for $850.
• Mount Olive: Mount Olive Community Unit District 5 for $850.
• Roxana: Roxana Community Unit District 1 for $1,379.65.
• Staunton: Staunton Community Unit School District 6 for $982.35.
• Troy: Triad Community Unit District 2 for $3,398.97.
• Wood River: East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 for $850.
Several school districts in Belleville are also receiving grants: Belle Valley School District 119 ($850), Belleville Township High School District 201 ($4,199.32), Harmony Emge School District 175 ($850), Signal Hill School District 181 ($850) and Whiteside School District 115 ($962).
Grants based on enrollment
“It’s imperative that all Illinois students have access to necessary resources including reading materials and learning services at our public school libraries,” Giannoulias said. “School libraries serve as places of learning and discovery. These funds will ensure that our libraries are well-equipped to educate and inspire our future generations.”
Based on a statutory formula, school districts receive $0.885 per student for their enrollment at each school having a qualified library. Funding for the program originates from the General Reserve Fund and is appropriated for this purpose by the Illinois General Assembly.
“The members of the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) are pleased to receive these generous grants from Secretary Giannoulias to expand our libraries with a more robust offering of resources and services,” said Janine Asmus, West Leyden High School librarian and president of AISLE, which provides leadership and support for the development, promotion, and improvement of the school library media profession and programs to promote lifelong learning for the students of Illinois.
“This funding will allow library staff to maintain and bolster school library educational offerings, ensuring that all Illinois students have the opportunity to learn and explore their interests,” Amus said. “All of us at AISLE are most appreciative of the continuous support of our Secretary of State and State Librarian, Alexi Giannoulias.”
View a list of the school libraries that received funding here.
