Insight

              The Illinois State Library was awarded $6.2 million
in Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA)
funds from the federal Institute of Museum and
Library Services for Illinois libraries. The
appropriation represents an increase of
$40,000 from last fiscal year.
"Federal LSTA grants are very important
in helping Illinois libraries provide the
services their patrons demand," said
Secretary of State and State Librarian
Jesse White. "These funds encourage
and reward creativity and innovation
in our libraries, and the increase in
funding allows more libraries to take
advantage of the grants.”
LSTA grants are used in areas such as enhancing
library collections, fostering stronger community
relationships, developing digital imaging projects
and implementing new library programs and
initiatives. The competitive grants are available to
academic, school, public and special libraries.
“Our librarians are always looking to the
future and looking for new ways to
educate, entertain and enlighten our
patrons,” said White. “LSTA grants help
provide our libraries with some of the
financial resources they need to remain
our state's most dependable sources of
information."
The grants are awarded to states based on
population. States provide at least $1 for every $2
of federal support. Applications for fiscal year 2006
LSTA grants will be available in April. Contact the
State Library for more information.
March/April
in
this
issue
LSTA Funding
Increases by
$40,000
White Awards
Construction, Per
Capita Grants
TumblerReadables
Online Library
April 13 — Library
Advocacy Day
2005 Synergy
Participants
LSTA funding increases by $40,000
2005
Jesse White • Secretary of State & State Librarian
A Newsletter from the Illinois State Library
INSIGHT April 13 — Illinois
Library Advocacy Day
As many as 400 librarians from across Illinois will
come to Springfield on April 13 for the annual
Illinois Library Advocacy Day. The State Library
atrium will be a meeting place for participants.
During fiscal year 2005, the State Library will award
$53 million in state and federal grants to Illinois
libraries and systems. On Library Advocacy Day,
representatives from regional library systems,
academic, public, school and special libraries and
library trustees meet with local lawmakers and urge
them to maintain state funding for libraries and
support other library-related issues.
Library Advocacy Day is sponsored by the Illinois
Library Association, the Illinois School Library Media
Association and the Illinois Library System Directors
Organization.
Black History Month — The Illinois State Library's
Diversity Program partnered with four other
Springfield libraries to present a series of programs
in February to commemorate Black History Month.
Above, Classie Murray, children's librarian at
Springfield's Lincoln Library, holds a Curious
George doll while entertaining Evan Dionne.