Oak Forest's Acorn Public Library Awarded $45,000 In Grant Money

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Library districts are receiving grant funding to help ensure all residents have access to quality resources and programming, Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced.

Libraries throughout the 27th and 28th House Districts, serving over 152,000 people, are receiving a combined $318,335 in grants.

Acorn Public Library in Oak Forest will receive $45,641 in grant money.

"Libraries throughout the state must have the resources and financial support they need to provide high-quality materials and programming to Illinois residents," Giannoulias said. "Libraries serve as centers for lifelong learning and are critical to providing opportunities for children and adults to enrich their lives."

"This is a win not only for the libraries receiving funding, but also for our community who will receive continued access to exceptional library services," said State Representative Justin Slaughter (27th District—Chicago). "These grant funds will help our libraries increase collections, update technology and ensure residents have the materials they need."

"I’m ecstatic we can provide more funding to our libraries to support their work in our communities," said State Representative Robert “Bob” Rita (28th District—Blue Island). "Our residents rely on library services to access information, technology and internet, and community programming."

The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita and equalization aid grant funding, public library construction grants and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need to upgrade their technology infrastructure.

• Acorn (Oak Forest) — $45,641
• Crestwood — $13,682
• Orland Park — $87,173
• Blue Island — $60,998
• Calumet Park — $22,932
• Dixmoor — $16,944
• Posen — $8,048
• Riverdale — $43,475
• William Leonard (Robbins) – $19,442

Public Library Per Capita Grants are awarded annually to support local public library services. This year, public libraries received just under $1.50 per person in their service area. Public libraries can use this funding for operational needs, including purchasing materials for their library collections and capital improvements to their facilities.

Equalization Aid funding is awarded under a statutory formula to provide a minimum level of funding when local funding through taxes is too low to meet the service population’s base needs.

Public Library Construction Grant funding allows libraries to address refurbishing and renovation of existing facilities; assure compliance with accessibility standards; and even build new facilities.
Under the new technology grant initiative, eligible public libraries were determined by review of their local tax base in comparison to the population that is served and also the poverty level of the community.

Libraries have two years to expend the technology grants to help fund things such as adding hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, increasing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, incorporating patron self-checkouts, and assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities.