library shelvesROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman announced three school districts in the Rockford area have received more than $30,000 to provide resources to libraries through books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

“Making sure our libraries are equipped with the resources necessary and pertinent to students is fundamental to the educational value they provide to our communities,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “I look forward to how these funds will be used in our area and the resources our libraries will be able to procure with this funding.”

Based on a statutory formula, school districts receive $0.885 per student enrolled at each school with a qualified library. Funding for the School District Library Grant Program originates from the General Reserve Fund and is appropriated for this purpose by the Illinois General Assembly.

The following school districts in Stadelman’s district received a total of $33,723:

  • Rockford Public School District 205 - $22,147
  • Belvidere School District 100 - $6,428
  • Harlem CUSD 122 - $5,147

The grants, awarded once every fiscal year, will support school library services for over 1 million students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade across the state.

“Illinois is ensuring our libraries can offer resources and services that benefit communities and create learning opportunities for our students,” Stadelman said. “This is a much-needed boost to local libraries as we continue to look for ways we can improve community education across the board.”

For a full list of libraries that received funding, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

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