Dollar General has several grants your library may be eligible for. For more information on the grants below and to apply online, visit the Dollar General website.
Dollar General Summer Reading Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Summer Reading Grants provide funding to local nonprofit organizations and libraries to help with the implementation or expansion of summer reading programs. Programs must target Pre-K through 12th grade students who are new readers, below grade level readers or readers with learning disabilities.
Dollar General Adult Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Adult Literacy Grants award funding to nonprofit organizations that provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance. Organizations must provide help in one of the following instructional areas:
Dollar General Family Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation Family Literacy Grants provide funding to family literacy service providers. The Foundation uses the federal government’s definition of family literacy when reviewing grant applications. Organizations applying for funding must have the following four components:Adult Education Instruction
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
Deadline: May 16, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:
Take advantage of this early registration opportunity!
Innovative Use of Skill-based Volunteers in Public Libraries – October 19, 2011
Teaming Up with Teens @ Your Library – October 25, 2011
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White is proud to join Governor Pat Quinn and Christopher Koch, Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education, in encouraging parents and librarians to check out an important website aimed at keeping children reading during the upcoming summer months when school is not in session. The Find-a-Book website, www.lexile.com/findabook, has quick and easy access to a list of books that will match a child’s reading level and interests, as well as the nearest libraries carrying each title.
The Find-a-Book site uses a student’s reading score in Lexiles, a measure of reading ability and text difficulty derived from state standardized tests, including the ISAT. The website also features a search option to access appropriate book choices based on grade level and comfort with typical reading materials at that grade level. Research has shown the powerful impact of continued reading. One review of the impact of summer reading found that children can lose up to 60 percent of their skills during a two-month vacation. Children who read during the summer months, however, can sustain their reading gains and are better prepared for learning when the school bell rings again in the fall.
Secretary White also encourages parents to talk with children about the fun and importance of summer reading and take them to the local public library. Librarians have information about Lexiles and other programs such as the iREAD program, a summer reading program offered through the Illinois Library Association (ILA).
The 2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program theme is “A Midsummer Knight’s Read.”Local library iREAD programming will include activities, games, art, reading lists and much more for children, teens and adults. Check it out at your local public library or go to the ILA iREAD website at http://www.ila.org/iread/iread-summer-reading-program
Illinois libraries have a great opportunity to receive Illinois Arts Council (IAC) 50% matched support when they book Judith Heineman and Daniel Marcotte for a program scheduled for June or July, 2011. Through a special statewide tour grant opportunity, the IAC will provide a 50% match for performance fee and travel expenses related to these performances. This tour grant opportunity is a partnership between the IAC and the LaSalle Public Library.
For more information about available performance themes, please see Judith’s website at: www.storytelling.org/heineman or http://www.arts.illinois.gov/artstour-roster/judith-heineman
Questions about participating in the grant? Contact Laura Frizol, LaSalle Public Library lfrizol@lasalle.lib.il.us
Teen Tech Week 2011 is March 6-12! Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, librarians, educators, parents, and other concerned adults that highlights nonprint resources at the library. The 2011 theme — Mix and Mash @ your library — focuses on encouraging teens to use library resources to express their creativity by developing their own unique online content and safely sharing it by using online collaborative tools. (from ALA)
Take a look at ALA’s webpage for publicity, resources, and ideas.

It’s true the snow is still flying – really flying here in Illinois- but this is still the perfect time to start wishful thoughts for warm weather and the summer reading programming that comes with it. Illinois has a rich tradition of supporting summer reading through the ILA iRead program, but you can still warm up your summer reading program with a creative spark from the resources and ideas listed in this edition of “What’s New @ WJIL.”
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ILA iRead: A Midsummer Knight’s Read
Summer Reading Program ideas from around the nation
On January 20, 2011 several WJ community partners gathered to share ideas and discuss their approach to summer reading programs. Find out what some other states are doing by browsing these links…
Links to blogs, reports, briefs, handouts, and programmatic resources on the subject of reading initiatives and summer reading in particular. Highlights include…
Library Reading Incentive Programs for Summer and Beyond - WJ Webinar
WebJunction Partners Share Summer Reading Program: Webinar Archive
Join the discussion and sharing during the upcoming February 15th WJ Webinar – Library Reading Incentive Programs for Summer and Beyond. Enroll now on L2.
Put a warm smile on your face as you browse the many creative and innovative ideas aimed at helping you develop the best programs and services for summer reading and early childhood literacy. It’s not too early to start. In fact now is the perfect time!
The upcoming WebJunction Webinar Young adults deserve the best: Using competencies to serve teens in your library is scheduled for Tuesday 11/23/2010 beginning at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
The current generation of teens is the most ethnically diverse and technologically plugged-in ever. Is your library ready to serve them? YALSA’s Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth play a key role in everyday service to young adult patrons.
Join Sarah Flowers, YALSA President-elect and author of Young Adults Deserve the Best: Putting YALSA’s Competencies into Action, to discuss practical ways to promote and apply the competencies to ensure quality library service to the teens in your community.
Visit L2 for registration.
The upcoming WebJunction Webinar Serving the Young Adult Population: It’s not just about video games is scheduled for Thursday 11/4/2010 beginning at 1:00 PM Central Time.
Need to develop or improve your library services to youth? This webinar will provide you with a basic primer on how to attract and keep young adults interested in your library services and programs and how to create an atmosphere of inclusion comfortable for you, your staff and your local young adults. Join Jill Jarrell, librarian, author and web content consultant, and Maurice Coleman, Technical Trainer at Harford County Public Library, to learn about materials and tactics that can help bring the reluctant reader back into the library and how to create a safe and welcoming space for your young adults.
Worried about networking when the library systems are cutting back? Looking for continuing education on a small budget? The LACONI organization is trying to fill those needs for library staff in the Northern Illinois area.
The LACONI Youth Services Section is sponsoring an author visit on September 24 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., with Simone Elkeles, author of Perfect Chemistry (an Abraham Lincoln Award nominated title).
After lunch, Professor Janice Del Negro from Dominican University will walk us through some best-loved books that we may have missed. This all day event takes place at the newly opened Oswego Public Library District Montgomery Campus and costs only $25.00 for the whole day, including lunch. CPDUs are available. We need your registration and payment by September 17. The registration form and information about the LACONI organization is available at www.laconi.org, or print the registration form.
The Montgomery campus is located near the intersection of Rt. 30 and Rt. 34 at 1111 Reading Drive, Montgomery, IL 60538
Going north on Rt. 34 –
Going East on Rt. 30 –
The library is the only thing on Reading Drive. There is a large parking lot is in the front of the building.
Attend this state-wide video conference from the comfort of your library system and take away ideas from a panel of Teen librarians on how they successfully get teens involved at their libraries.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
9:30am – 12:30 pm
State-wide Library System Video Conference
Cost $10 (Please write check to Metropolitan Library System. The mailing address is 125 Tower Drive Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527. Attention: Attention: Christina Stoll)
Note: When registering, be sure to select the library system location where you will be attending the workshop.