Last week, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office announced the distribution of nearly $18 million in Public Library Per Capita Grants to 639 public libraries across the state. The grants, awarded annually, help libraries support valuable resources and services to their communities.
Funding amounts are determined by a statutory formula based on each library’s service population. Libraries can use the grants to support a range of resources and services, including books and multilingual materials, e-books, internet access, staff, programming such as summer reading initiatives, and even capital improvements.
To qualify, libraries must be recognized as “Full Member Libraries” within their regional library systems. The next application deadline is January 30, 2026.
To learn more about the Public Library Per Capita Grants, please visit the Illinois Secretary of State’s website.
Libraries receiving grants in the 38th District include:
- DeKalb Public Library
- Ladd Public Library District
- LaSalle Public Library
- Marseilles Public Library
- Morris Area Public Library
- Charles B. Phillips Public Library District
- Oglesby Public Library District
- Oswego Public Library District
- Reddick Public Library District
- Peru Public Library
- Plano Community Library District
- Sandwich Public Library District
- Robert W. Rowe Public Library District
- Somonauk Public Library District
- Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library
- Utica Public Library District
- Clinton Township Public Library
- Yorkville Public Library