Four Northwest suburban libraries among state grant winners

Four Northwest suburban libraries will share more than $361,000 in new state grants, a state lawmaker has announced.

The Schaumburg Township District Library will get about $187,102. The Des Plaines Public Library will receive more than $86,086. The Elk Grove Village Public Library will get about $32,603. And the Park Ridge Public Library will receive $55,283.

All four of the libraries are in the 28th state Senate District. State Sen. Laura Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat representing the district, revealed the grant winners in a news release.

"Local libraries are a major contributor to literacy in our neighborhoods," Murphy said. "With the school year starting back up, the resources libraries offer - computers, meeting spaces and helpful librarians - will be in even greater demand."

The grants are part of an $18.1 million statewide effort called the Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants Program. Administered by the Secretary of State's office, it boosts funding for services and products at public libraries with relatively low tax bases.

More than 630 libraries will receive grants this year.

Other libraries receiving grants through the program include those in Antioch, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bartlett, Batavia, Carol Stream, Carol Stream, Cary, East Dundee, Elgin, Elmhurst, Fox River Grove, Glendale Heights, Glenview, Grayslake, Itasca, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Mundelein, Northbrook, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Woodstock.