Many south suburban public libraries, which officials say are chronically underfunded for improvements, are beginning to receive state grants to modernize their libraries' technology.
The Illinois Secretary of State's Office announced that 113 libraries across Illinois are eligible to receive either $12,500 or $27,500 to add hardware or software, expand online collections, purchase digital devices or mobile apps, improve internet accessibility and more.
To be eligible for the grant, a city must have a lower tax base and a higher poverty rate than the rest of the state. Because libraries are funded primarily through property taxes, library budgets are heavily dependent on the tax base.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in Southland.
“I know a lot of people say this, but when we first got the call we thought it was a prank,” Riverdale Public Library Director Rebecca Vaughn said.
Vaughn said the library is “very grateful and honored” to receive a check for $27,500 that it recently received, which will be used to upgrade printers, improve the online system for reserving books, increase internet speeds and update the website to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“This is really going to help us serve our patrons better,” Vaughn said, “especially in this day and age where everything is becoming more electronic and more technology-focused, and making sure they have the resources to grow and learn what they need to. So it's really needed.”
Other libraries receiving $27,500 in grants include Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Dolton, Harvey, Grand Prairie in Hazel Crest, Justice, Lansing, Park Forest and Steger South Chicago Heights. Libraries receiving $12,500 in grants include Calumet Park, Dixmoor, Phoenix, William Leonard in Robbins and Nancy L. McConathy in Sauk Village.
Dalton Public Library (Hank Sanders/Daily Southtown)
Phoenix library officials thought of their older patrons when they learned they were eligible for small technology grants. Library Director Jasmine Bond said she hasn't received the check yet, but is excited to update the website and expand the audiobook collection.
“We have an elderly client who comes in all the time and borrows audiobooks,” Bond said. “Right now, our audio collection is between 15 and 30 books, and she has read almost all of them.”
Bond also hopes to upgrade the library's computers and start classes this fall to teach computer skills to seniors and help them become technologically independent, and he plans to add iPads to the children's section to keep young children entertained while families read or work.
“Because we're a small library, I think this grant will help us be more on par with other competing libraries around us,” Bond said. “Patient groups will know that they can get more use out of their library than they can from other libraries because their library and their town have all the resources they need.”
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