Stuart Celebrates Illinois Heartland Library System Receiving More Than $5 Million in State Grant Funding

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.— State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is congratulating Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) on securing millions of dollars of state funding to allow the organization to provide more resources readily available and free to many Illinois residents.

“Libraries are essential resources that provide more than books,” said Stuart. “In the digital

age, you can borrow eBooks and audiobooks from your local library through an app on your phone. You can go to a library to use wifi, print out a document, and at some libraries, use a shared sewing machine, Cricut or other crafting supplies. Libraries are the heart and soul of our communities, and I am so happy the Illinois Heartland Library System can expand their reach and impact with these new grants.

IHLS serves central and southern Illinois, providing internal and external resources for ⅔ of the state. Libraries utilizing IHLS services can borrow and exchange books between libraries, expanding resources accessible in each community, and advocates for the library and librarians’ best interests. 

IHLS received three categories of grant funding: Technology, Library Services and Technology Act, and System Area and Per Capita. Technology grants allow libraries to expand their digital capabilities, offering a higher number of books, magazines, TV shows and movies through accessible providers. Library Services and Technology Act funding is specifically allocated for library events and community engagement. System Area and Per Capita funding allows IHLS to invest more resources to their related facilities based on population.

“Across the country, we’re facing a real literacy crisis. Young people, especially those who missed formative years of education because of the COVID pandemic, are not reading at the rates previous generations have,” said Stuart. “IHLS will be able to do so much with this new funding, and we all should take advantage of the opportunity for more free resources, from books to printers to community gathering spaces.”