Jesse White, Secretary of State as well as the State Librarian, provides Back2Books grants to libraries that apply.

After applying this year, Booth Library has received $5,000 to use on books and supplies for the library. The grant, “which pairs collection development with programming or an activity to engage the target audience in reading, learning or using the new materials,” according to the grant website.

Booth is one of 159 state libraries to be awarded the one of the grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. A total of $670,000 worth of grants had been given out.

“It is important that our libraries have access to a diverse collection of books for patrons to read for knowledge or enjoyment,” White said in a press release. “These grants are a great way for libraries to encourage reading and get more people to use their local library.”

The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Illinois State Library fund the awards.

Reference Service Professor David Bell said they will be using the money to buy books and movies related to their planned exhibit next semester, “Revolutionary Decade: Reflections on the 1960s.” As the title suggests, the books and movies will be related to the 1960s in some capacity.

Booth is also nominated to win another grant for $5,000. Booth has been selected as one of the 30 finalists, 15 of which are libraries, to receive the national medal for museum and library service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The announcement to who will win the grant will be sometime next week.

They had been nominated for one of the semester-long exhibits hosted in Booth, “America’s Music: a Film History of our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway.”

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.