ILA E-Newsletter

Special Legislative Update -- June 16, 2020
June 16, 2020
We are especially pleased to announce that Governor Pritzker signed the FY2020-21 budget (Public Act 101-0638) on June 12, 2020, and that this budget includes increases in the per capita grant rate for both school and public libraries, from…
From Statements to Action: ILA Condemns Racism and Violence
June 4, 2020
Today, we are called to address current events—specifically, to condemn the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers, and Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of self-appointed white vigilantes. These may be well beyond t…
Legislative Update -- May 28, 2020
May 28, 2020
The Illinois General Assembly completed its four-day special session with the passage of the FY2021 budget and appropriations package, including the Secretary of State's requested budget; and several omnibus amendments designed for COVID-19 resp…
ILA Executive Director Announces Bigger Than A Building Campaign
May 6, 2020
We started this new month by announcing something that we hope will help our community continue to stay strong during this pandemic, the Bigger Than A Building Campaign. Bigger Than A Building is two-fold. First, it’s designed to increase …
Legislative Update -- April 9, 2020
April 9, 2020
The ILA Public Policy and Advocacy Committees met on Monday and to no one's surprise, the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on libraries was the main focus of discussion. In Illinois, the General Assembly stands adjourned as Governor Pritzker’s …
Legislative Update -- March 26, 2020
March 26, 2020
On the federal level, the Senate has passed the third funding bill aimed at emergency relief with regard to COVID-19; it includes $50 million for libraries that will be disseminated via the existing Grants to States program, with the state matching r…
Legislative Update -- March 19, 2020
March 19, 2020
Macmillan Abandons Library Ebook Embargo On Tuesday, March 17, John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan Publishers, announced that effective Friday, March 20, they will return to the library ebook pricing model that was in effect on October 31, …
ILA Statement On Library Closures
March 16, 2020
3/16/2020 ILA Statement on Library Closures In light of Governor Pritzker's recent closing of Illinois public schools, restaurants, and bars, his disaster proclamation, and recommendation to avoid  large gatherings, as well a…
A Message from the Reaching Forward Committee
March 15, 2020
Valued Illinois library colleagues, Following several days of deliberation, discussion, and exploring options, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the 2020 Reaching Forward Conference that was to be held Friday, May 1st at the Donald E. St…
Legislative Update -- March 12, 2020
March 12, 2020
Clearly the coronavirus (COVID-19) is dominating the news cycle and our attention, and has legislative repercussions as well. First, the upcoming session of the Illinois General Assembly, scheduled for 3/18-22/2020, has been CANCELLED. We do not yet …
iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »