Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded Fiscal Year 2010 Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants totaling nearly $12 million to 612 public libraries serving 11.6 million patrons.  White said he was pleased to be able to award the grants, even though lawmakers made significant cuts to the grant program during last year’s legislative session.  Odell Public Library will receive $4540.83.

“The State of Illinois is facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, and cuts were made to the FY 2010 budgets of every Illinois constitutional officer, my office included,” White said.  “My original FY10 budget request included an increase in library funding.  Unfortunately, the General Assembly's budget process resulted in severe cuts to programs, such as the Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant Program.” 

In order to minimize the impact of these reductions on this very popular and important grant program, White made the decision to replace some of the reduced funds with money the Illinois State Library receives from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS.)  

Per Capita Grant funding helps ensure that public libraries have some of the most important resources they need to address the needs of their patrons.  Libraries count on Per Capita Grants for expenses such as paying for material, personnel, equipment, electronic access, telecommunications, and technology.   Equalization Aid Grants are important, because they help public libraries, which have a low library tax base and help ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.

“I am extremely proud of the outstanding service Illinois’s public libraries provide to our communities,” White said.  “They have helped patrons enormously during these difficult economic times by providing free Internet access, e- mail, books, CD’s, DVD’s, and other materials.  Offering such service reinforces my belief that libraries are truly cornerstones of our communities.”