‘I was gonna have to cut staff members’: State funding saves library jobs in Belvidere

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — Over 600 public libraries received part of $20 million in grants, including multiple libraries in Northern Illinois.

The IDA Public Library Executive Director in Belvidere is elated to have a larger budget.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Mindy Long explained. “This is targeted for small and rural libraries that do not have a very large budget.”

Long would have been forced to make some tough decisions if it were not for the help of the state.

“I was gonna have to do some layoffs,” Long continued. “I was gonna have to cut staff members.”

Thanks to the Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants, she did not have to.

“We all know that our libraries play a vital role and serve as the cornerstone of Illinois communities,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “That’s why it’s so critical to support our libraries in every single neighborhood in Illinois.”

Long looks to use the funding for upgrading technology services and building the library’s book offerings.

Here is a full list of other libraries in the stateline that are benefiting from the grants and how much each one is receiving:

• Rockford Rockford Public Library – $219,266.13
• Belvidere Ida Public Library – $37,375.03
• Cherry Valley Cherry Valley Public Library District – $20,493.65
• DeKalb DeKalb Public Library – $59,427.75
• Dixon Dixon Public Library – $22,529.15
• Freeport Freeport Public Library – $35,360.18
• Loves Park North Suburban Public Library District – $102,227.83
• Oregon Oregon Public Library District – $9,009.30
• Pecatonica Pecatonica Public Library District – $8,130.20
• Rochelle Flagg-Rochelle Public Library District – $19,611.60
• Rockton Talcott Free Library District – $16,313.50
• South Beloit South Beloit Public Library – $11,783.78
• Stillman Valley Julia Hull District Library – $11,832.45
• Sycamore Sycamore Public Library – $27,401.08
• Winnebago Winnebago Public Library District – $10,766.03