Libraries to take care of business

PRINCETON — Four Bureau County public libraries will participate in a “Taking Care of Business” grant through the Kewanee Public Library.

Carol Bird, director of the Princeton Public Library, said the “Taking Care of Business” grant will provide a means for each of the 15 participating libraries to get $1,000 worth of books relating to businesses and careers. The grant also allows for the development of a Web site for the businesses and for a grant coordinator to make sure the grant is working well.

Bird said she will need to have the books on careers and business ordered by June 2008. The invoice for that order will be submitted to the grant coordinator.

“This is a good opportunity for us,” Bird said. “We need to reach into the business community, and this is a good start for us.”

Other Bureau County libraries participating in the “Taking Care of Business” grant are Mason Memorial Library in Buda, Neponset Public Library and Sheffield Public Library.

Jeannie Jarigese, librarian at the Mason Memorial Library, said the grant program will help the Buda library with some much needed and newer materials.

“We have nothing current on careers for adults,” Jarigese said. “We have materials on writing resumes, but no books on possible careers for adults. So this grant will definitely help us.”

The Kewanee Public Library District received the $69,797 grant from the Illinois State Library. The grant is geared to help provide information services to job seekers and entrepreneurs in rural Bureau, Stark and Henry counties.

Jill Gray, librarian with the Kewanee Public Library District, wrote the grant application in collaboration with the Black Hawk College East Campus librarian Beth Duttlinger. Money for the grant was provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act.

Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.