Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded Fiscal Year 2013 School District Library Program Grants totaling almost $1.4 million to 642 Illinois public school districts. Nearly 1.7 million students served by school library media programs will benefit from the grants.

“As a former public school teacher and administrator, I know our school libraries are so important in helping students learn and prepare themselves for the future,” White said.

“Several studies in recent years have shown that students perform better in the classroom in school districts that have strong library media programs. Illinois was the first state to implement a school district grant program, and I’m pleased that we can continue to provide school libraries with some of the financial resources they need to produce well-educated students.”