GLEN CARBON – Six local school districts will receive more than $14,000 in grants through the Illinois secretary of state’s School Library Grant program, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) announced today.

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, are meant to help public schools offer more library books and materials to students.

“School libraries have the tools to increase a child’s lifelong learning and literacy skills, enabling their individual social participation both in the classroom and at home,” Crowe said. “I applaud our state for recognizing the importance of providing our children with the opportunity to find a passion for reading.”

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• Alton Community Unit School District 11 – $4,395.00
• Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 – $2,877.00
• Granite City Community Unit School District 9 – $4,280.25
• Central School District 104, O’Fallon – $750.00
• Roxana Community Unit District 1 – $1,302.75
• East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 – $750.00

From Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations approved by the General Assembly and the governor, school library grants were awarded based on a formula of $.75 per student, with a minimum grant award of $750.

School libraries can use the funds to acquire fiction and/or nonfiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources, as well as to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity.