American Rescue Plan Act Funding SourcesAs state and federal agencies release additional information about the availability of funding authorized by ARPA, we're keeping our ARPA Funding for Illinois Libraries index up-to-date. Information a…
Springfield UpdateThe Illinois General Assembly spring session has concluded! Legislators passed a $42 billion budget on Tuesday, working past the midnight, May 31, deadline. We'll report in more detail as it becomes available, but part of the good n…
In 2021, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) received $135 million in funding to assist humanities and cultural organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). As the state affiliate for the …
Media LiteracyHB 234 Media Literacy, which passed the House on April 20, passed the Senate this week and will head to Governor Pritzker's desk in the next month to sign into law. ILA and AISLE supported this legislation, which amends the School Code …
On May 17, 2021, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2021-10, aligning the State of Illinois' mask mandate with recently released CDC guidelines. Executive Order 2021-10 preserves the right of local municipalities and individual busine…
Springfield UpdateThe Illinois General Assembly has begun FY2022 budget discussions. Through April the state has collected approximately 84% of its annual $43.5 billion revenue estimate, ahead of its 82.2% historical percentage; excluding federal sti…
Congratulations to the newly elected ILA Executive Board members! PRESIDENT-ELECT Heather Jagman (DePaul University) - Elected Michelle Nielsen Ott (Methodist College) DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Mary Jo Matousek (Aptakisic-Tripp School Distr…
Attend the 2021 Annual Conference & Exhibition (Virtual) this summer! The library event created and curated for the library community. The June 23-29, online event will offer featured authors and celebrity speakers; educational programm…
Springfield UpdateThere are just over four weeks until the May 31 spring legislative session target adjournment date. As of now, there are arguably three main issues before the legislature: the FY2022 appropriations package; redistricting of le…
Springfield Update Friday, April 23 is the deadline for bills to pass out of their origin chamber (House or Senate) without an extension. HB 234, which will require public high schools to include media literacy in the curriculum, passed out of t…