Jesse White Awards More Than $280,000 in Project Next Generation Grants
Funds Provide Technology and Mentors to Help At-Risk Youth
Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White awarded $289,310 in 2015 Project Next Generation (PNG) Grants. Project Next Generation is the first-ever statewide mentoring program to be administered through Illinois public libraries. Project mentors work with young students at public libraries to develop technological skills and guide them in exploring life skills such as effective communication, goal-setting and conflict resolution.
“I am committed to improving the lives of young, at-risk children in Illinois,†said White. “I established this innovative program when I first became Secretary of State to give students an opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the latest technological tools at their local library.â€
With funds provided through the Library Services and Technology Act, the PNG Grants are administered by the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library’s Diversity Program. Grants are awarded to public libraries serving culturally diverse, low-income and underserved populations. To meet the grant’s criteria, a library must be able to deliver the program’s projects, meet the Children’s Internet Protection Act guidelines and have high innovative interest.
More than 6,600 students have participated in the PNG program since its inception in 2000, and 600 mentors have generously offered their time to provide training for students to help them obtain technology skills while encouraging lifelong learning.
PNG Grant recipients include the following public libraries:
- Beardstown Houston Memorial Library
- Bloomington Public Library
- Carbondale Public Library
- Centralia Regional Library District
- Champaign Public Library
- Chicago Ridge Public Library
- Decatur Public Library
- Elmwood Park Public Library
- Harrisburg Public Library
- Hayner Public Library
- Joliet Public Library
- Kankakee Public Library
- Kewanee Public Library District
- Matteson Public Library
- Mississippi Valley Library District
- Moline Public Library
- Pekin Public Library
- Peoria Public Library-Lincoln Branch
- Richton Park Public Library
- Sparta Public Library
- Zion-Benton Public Library
For more information, visit http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/png.html.
