Over the past 30 years, iREAD has grown to become a leader of Summer Reading Program development by providing libraries with all of the resources they need to promote, launch, and execute great reading programs. Increasingly, iREAD themes and programs are being used year-round in schools and literacy programs. For more information, call 877-565-1896 or visit here.

Return forms to Jeanne Urbanek, Illinois State Library, Gwendolyn Brooks Bldg., 300 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1796; or fax to 217-782-1877. Jeanne’s e-mail address is jurbanek@ilsos.net.

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The man’s employer realized he could not read and sent him to the Adult Literacy Program at McHenry County College. After one year of working with his tutor, the man attended a class with tears in his eyes. He told his tutor, “Thank you. Last night I read a book to my granddaughter!” The man continues to work with his tutor and now hopes to obtain his GED.

Although she dropped out of high school, this 59-year-old adult learner always intended to obtain her GED. In fact, when she was in her 20’s, she attended a GED class in another state. The woman overheard her tutor saying that she was a “low-level reader,” which hurt her feelings so much that she quit the class.

Recently, the woman moved to Quincy to care for her ailing mother. She was able to transfer from the Indiana pharmacy she worked at to one in Quincy; however, the company now required all employees to have a high school diploma or GED. She worried that she wouldn’t be able to pass the GED test at age 59. She visited the literacy program at John Wood Community College, and was matched with an experienced tutor. She studied hard and successfully obtained her GED.

She is now studying for her pharmacy tech certificate and says her life would be quite different if she hadn’t been part of the John Wood literacy program.

Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, a division of state, local, or tribal government or a tax-exempt public library. Eligible applicants include literacy centers, libraries, museums, colleges and universities, and arts organizations. Grants will be awarded in varying amounts, from $2,500 to $20,000.

Community organizations participating in The Big Read will develop and produce a well-planned, well-attended, community-wide read with innovative, diverse programming, and widespread community involvement and participation. Grant activities last for up to one month and focus on a book or poet from The Big Read Library.

To access the guidelines and application, visit The Big Read website.

Read the article in the School Library Journal here.

The Illinois Network of Talking Book and Braille Libraries (TBBS) serves more than 28,000 people with print disabilities, which includes anyone who is blind or visually impaired, who has a physical condition that makes it difficult to hold a book or turn pages, or who has a medically diagnosed reading disability such as dyslexia.

The Poetry Foundation Library is the only library dedicated exclusively to poetry. The library features a collection of over 30,000 volumes and private listening booths to experience audio and video recordings. More information can be found in Greg Landgraf’s recent article, A Library Home for Poetry.

Admission to the open house is free, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Entries must be postmarked by January 6, 2012. State winners will be announced May 2012. For more information about the competition, contact Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or bmatheis@ilsos.net.

Information can also be found at Illinois Center for the Book .