The Illinois State Library Literacy Office announced that effective at 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 11th, the Web-based version of the Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grant application will become available.  Once the Web-based application is posted, the PDF version will no longer be available.   Please plan accordingly.

If you have already begun to work on the PDF version of the application, please be certain to save that document on your desktop or your hard drive.  You will be able to cut and paste from the PDF version into the Web-based version.

Here are important technical instructions for using the Web-based version of the application:

• You are encouraged to develop the proposal offline using a word processing program. The Web-based application does not have spell or grammar check capabilities. Compose and check the document using your word processing program, then copy and paste the proposal into the Web-based application.
• Be aware of the character limits within the text boxes.
• A timer within the Web-based application will expire after 30 minutes with no activity. Typing within one section or screen does not activate this activity monitor. After 30 minutes, any information on the screen will be lost.  Clicking the “Save” button periodically will prevent that data loss. When you click “Save” or “Next,” your valid data is also saved.
• A shaded progress bar at the top of every page will indicate your advancement through the application.
• Navigational directions, “Previous” and “Next”, appear at the bottom of every page.  Use those buttons rather than the back and forward arrows in your browser.
• To make a change within a text box, use your back space key.
• You may logout before finishing or submitting your application.  When you re-enter the application, you will be directed to the last place that you entered data.

This Web-based application for the Penny Severns  Summer Family Literacy program is a PILOT PROGRAM.  The Illinois State Library is working toward automating all of our grant programs, from application to submission of reporting forms.

This pilot application is the first step in that direction. Your input and suggestions regarding the pilot application process are welcomed.  Please submit feedback via email to Beth Paoli  so that we may document your suggestions. 

If you encounter any problems or have questions in preparing the Web-based application, please do not hesitate to contact  the Literacy Office at 800-665-5576, extension 3,  or 217-785-6921.