School Libraries In Homer Glen, Lockport To Receive Grants From State

HOMER GLEN-LOCKPORT, IL — School libraries throughout the state, including in Homer Glen and Lockport, will be receiving grant funds to support student learning by providing valuable resources and services. More than $1.4 million will be awarded to public school districts for the benefit of 2,713 school libraries throughout Illinois, Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias said Friday.

In the Homer Glen and Lockport area, school districts that received funding are:

• Lockport School District 91, $850
• Lockport Township High School District 205, $3,382.47
• Taft School District 90, $850
• Will County School District 92, $1,133.69

According to officials, the grants, which are 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 will include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

"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."

School districts receive $0.885 per student for their enrollment at each school having a qualified library, which officials say is based on a statutory formula. The program is funded from the General Reserve Fund and is appropriated for this purpose by the Illinois General Assembly.

View a list of all the school libraries that received funding here.