Supporting our School Libraries
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a lifelong love of reading.
Our public school libraries do so much to open the doors of literature to children, introducing them to a vast storehouse of information and helping them develop the critical thinking skills they will need as adults.
The General Assembly provides grant money each year to help public school libraries purchase books, e-books, audiobooks, and other educational technologies and materials for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. These grants, which are awarded on a per-student formula by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, are providing more than $1.3 million this year to 2,484 public school libraries throughout Illinois.
Here in District 42, the grant program will provide funding to 10 school districts:
- Lisle Community Unit District 202: $1,277
- Downers Grove Grade SD 58: $3,871
- Downers Grove Community High School District 99: $4,022
- Glen Ellyn School District 41: $2,790
- Glenbard Township HSD 87: $6,607
- Community Consolidated School District 89: $1,885
- Lombard Elementary School District 44: $2,508
- Wheaton Community Unit SD 200: $9,513
- Naperville CUSD 203: $13,301
- Villa Park School District 45: $2,607
I’m so pleased that our public school libraries, and our students, will benefit from these additional funds.