Bluffs Public Library receives technology grant from Illinois Secretary of State

By Editor | August 13, 2025 |

By DAVID CAMPHOUSE

Submitted photo
Bluffs Public Library Board president Lorena Sleeman and Secretary Maryon Shaw made a presentation before the Bluffs Village Board at the Village Board’s regular August meeting. The topic of the presentation was a $12,500 technology grant received by the library from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Sleeman and Shaw reported that the library board plans to use the recently acquired grant funding to purchase hardware that will be made available to the public.

Bluffs Public Library Board President Lorena Sleeman and Secretary Maryon Shaw made a presentation before the Bluffs Village Board at the Village Board’s regular August meeting.

The topic of the presentation was a $12,500 technology grant received by the library from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

Sleeman and Shaw reported that the library board plans to use the recently acquired grant funding to purchase hardware that will be made available to the public. Examples of the technology to be purchased with the grant funding include a copier, fax machine, scanner, and two desktop computers so the public will have access to the library’s wireless internet service.

Sleeman and Shaw also reported that the Library Board is considering the purchase of a wall-mounted “Smart Board.” The Smart Board would be valuable for members of the public who wished to utilize the library for hosting meetings or educational programming.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, 113 public libraries were eligible to receive the technology grant – totaling an amount of either $27,500 or $12,500 – depending on the size of the population they serve.

To have qualified for the grant, according to information provided by the Illinois Library Association (ILA), communities must have been eligible for updated equalization aid grant funding – resulting from a low tax base – and have a high poverty rate.

Also according to the ILA, in applying for the grants, libraries were encouraged to consider the technology needs of software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, increasing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities, and incorporating patron self-checkouts.

Members of the Bluffs Village Board impressed upon Sleeman and Shaw that the Village desires that the public library be much more welcoming to members of the public. It was reported that the board had talked to the librarian about complaints received from residents that the library was not as welcoming and accessible as it should be. It is hoped that the technology grant will be part of a broader effort to attract more users to the library and to make the library more user friendly.

Sleeman went on to ask the Village to help pay for a portion of an air conditioner coil that was repaired earlier in the summer. The Village had previously denied a request to pay for the repair at the Village Board’s July meeting. Village Trustee Chuck Pine made a motion to pay $500.00 toward the air conditioning repair bill, with Aaron Sharrow seconding. A roll call vote was taken on the matter, and the motion passed unanimously.

The technology grant received by the Bluffs Public Library is part of an ongoing effort by the State of Illinois and the Secretary of State’s office to maintain and improve access to library facilities throughout the state.

“Libraries play a significant role in our communities, so it’s imperative that they evolve to meet the needs of residents and expand their offerings, particularly when it comes to technology,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a release provided by his office. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all communities, regardless of their location or wealth, have access to the best library programming beyond just written materials. These grants will help narrow digital divides.”

“A library is more than just a building with books, it’s the epicenter of opportunity, discovery and community connection. From early childhood education to workforce development, libraries empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Properly funding our libraries will ensure that they are able to continue generating an outsized impact in communities across Illinois.”

News of the Illinois Secretary of State grants comes amid federal cuts to library budgets nationwide. In March, the Trump administration signed an executive order to eliminate and defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which issues $180 million annually to public libraries nationwide. Illinois receives nearly $6 million annually – the sixth highest amount of any state.

“We’re doing things differently in Illinois,” Giannoulias added in the same press release. “Instead of cutting funding that would limit learning and prove harmful to Illinois communities, we’re fighting for Illinoisans to ensure they have the funding and resources to learn, grow and explore today and in the future.”

In 2023, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office spearheaded first-in-the-nation legislation designed to prevent book banning, which set a nationwide precedent in the fight against a rising tide of censorship and book bans across the country.