The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) presents a unique one-time opportunity for Illinois libraries to apply for funds for programs or services created to help communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have invited Diane Foote, ILA Executive Director, to our June 3rd SWAN Quarterly meeting to provide an overview of the various forms ARPA funds will be allocated in Illinois. Following the Quarterly meeting, SWAN will host regional meetings to generate some ideas for possible application when the funds are available. Full details on how to apply for funds are not available yet, but libraries working together will likely have greater chances of success if the ideas are created and organized now, versus later.
Some ideas shared by library directors for possible funding:
- Laptops purchased for library users to check-out
- Unrestricted reciprocal borrower access to local library computer use (library reimbursed if charging non-residents)
- Tutoring for K-12 students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
These will be online brainstorming events for library directors and administrators. We have five suggested groups organized by county/region.
Kane County Group Meeting: Monday, June 7, 2021 1pm - 2pm
Register for Kane County Grp Mtg
DuPage County Group Meeting: Monday, June 7, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Register for DuPage County Grp Mtg
Cook County South Group Meeting: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 1pm - 2pm
Register for Cook County South Grp Mtg
Cook County North Group Meeting: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Register for Cook County North Grp Mtg
Will County Group Meeting: Thursday, June 10, 2021 1pm - 2pm
Register for Will County Grp Mtg
Our suggested group meetings fall into five library groups: please refer to your library within one of these groups.
| Bellwood Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Berkeley Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Berwyn Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Broadview Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Brookfield Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Cicero Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Eisenhower Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Elmwood Park Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Forest Park Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Franklin Park Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Hillside Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Hodgkins Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| La Grange Public Library |
Cook County North |
| LaGrange Park Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Lyons Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Maywood Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| McCook Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Melrose Park Public Library |
Cook County North |
| North Riverside Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Northlake Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Oak Park Public Library |
Cook County North |
| River Forest Public Library |
Cook County North |
| River Grove Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Riverside Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Schiller Park Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Stickney-Forest View Public Library District |
Cook County North |
| Thomas Ford Memorial Library |
Cook County North |
| Westchester Public Library |
Cook County North |
| Acorn Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Bedford Park Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Blue Island Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Bridgeview Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Calumet City Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Calumet Park Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Chicago Heights Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Chicago Ridge Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Crestwood Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Dolton Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Evergreen Park Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Flossmoor Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Grande Prairie Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Green Hills Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Harvey Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Homewood Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Justice Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Lansing Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Markham Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Matteson Area Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Midlothian Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Nancy L. McConathy Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Oak Lawn Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Palos Heights Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Palos Park Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Park Forest Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Prairie State College |
Cook County South |
| Prairie Trails Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Richton Park Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Riverdale Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| South Holland Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Summit Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Thornton Public Library |
Cook County South |
| Tinley Park Public Library |
Cook County South |
| William Leonard Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Worth Public Library District |
Cook County South |
| Bensenville Community Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Bensenville Elementary School District #2 |
DuPage County |
| Bloomingdale Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Carol Stream Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Clarendon Hills Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Downers Grove Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Glen Ellyn Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Glenside Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Hinsdale Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Indian Prairie Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Itasca Community Library |
DuPage County |
| Morton Arboretum |
DuPage County |
| National University of Health Sciences |
DuPage County |
| Oak Brook Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Roselle Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Theosophical Society in America |
DuPage County |
| Villa Park Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Warrenville Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| West Chicago Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Westmont Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Wood Dale Public Library District |
DuPage County |
| Woodridge Public Library |
DuPage County |
| Batavia Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Geneva Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Kaneville Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Messenger Public Library of North Aurora |
Kane County |
| St Charles Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Sugar Grove Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Town and Country Public Library District |
Kane County |
| Beecher Community Library District |
Will County |
| Crete Public Library District |
Will County |
| Frankfort Public Library District |
Will County |
| University Park Public Library District |
Will County |
