Ammons Applauds Library Grants to Improve Literacy in Local Schools

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, is applauding recent library grants which will include benefits to Champaign-Urbana School District (CUSD) 4 and Urbana School District 116.

“I am happy to announce that two of our school districts in our community will reap benefits worth thousands of dollars to encourage youth literacy in schools,” Ammons said. “Reading has many social and academic benefits that will enrich our children’s school experience. I remember as a young student, my school’s library was full of wonder and curiosity. I hope that young students these days will find the same enchantment as I did when checking out a new book at school. These grants will help these schools in our community out tremendously.”

The grants, made possible by the fiscally and socially responsible budget Ammons supported, were recently announced by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. These grants will allot Champaign CUSD 4 with $8,782 and Urbana School District $3,411, respectively.

The grants come after a string of legislative wins from the Secretary of State’s office that sought to combat censorship in children’s books. Ammons was in full support of the Illinois Library System Act, where she acted as the bill’s chief co-sponsor to support public and school libraries facing censorship of books and resources in Illinois.