SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias led a legislative effort to change the library Equalization Aid Grant formula, increasing the eligibility from 17 serving 77,000 residents to 108 public libraries serving more than 700,000 residents across the state while freeing up additional funds.
“While the federal government seeks to scrap programs and slash critical funding for libraries nationwide, Illinois is investing in our residents and communities,” Giannoulias said. “As a result, more underserved and rural libraries will have access to new funding, quality library materials and essential services. Now more than ever, libraries serve as pillars of our communities, and it’s essential they have the financial support and resources to enable them to thrive.”
Since the 1960s, the state has provided Equalization Aid Grants to support libraries that fail to meet an adequate funding threshold because of low tax bases, which means fewer tax dollars are available to support them. This creates financial disparities in available materials, programming, and even the structural conditions of library buildings.
Giannoulias spearheaded an effort, approved by the Illinois General Assembly, to raise the base minimum funding from $7.50 per person in a library’s service population to $17.50 per person, dramatically increasing funding for libraries in the most underserved communities. The funding allows libraries to implement needed physical or technological upgrades, purchase new learning materials and provide community programing.
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