The largest award is a $52,000 Illinois Public Library Construction Grant that will help fund renovations to the library’s main-floor public restroom. The project will make the restroom ADA accessible while bringing the historic Carnegie building up to current building codes.
Although the grant covers a significant portion of the work, the library will match the funding, bringing the total project cost to approximately $104,000. Construction is expected to begin in early November following the bidding process.
Because the renovation involves the library’s original 1904 Carnegie building, Slaney said the project could uncover unexpected challenges once construction begins, though asbestos testing has already been completed.
In addition to the construction grant, the library also received approximately $25,000 through Illinois annual per-capita grant program. Those funds will be used to purchase books, digital materials and other resources that benefit patrons.
Beyond the facility improvements, the library is preparing to launch one of its newest services: a mobile outreach book van.
Unlike a traditional bookmobile, the van will deliver library materials directly to senior living facilities, community organizations and residents who have difficulty traveling to the library. Staff members will bring carts filled with books, audiobooks and other materials tailored to each location while also helping patrons access digital resources such as eBooks and audiobooks.
The library hopes the outreach service will eventually expand to community events, parks and other public gatherings as it becomes established.
Slaney also discussed the library’s ongoing role as a community resource, noting that today’s libraries provide much more than books. Patrons have access to physical collections, digital materials, interlibrary loan services, technology assistance and educational resources.
The Sterling Public Library recently received another grant from the Association for Rural and Small Libraries that will fund digital literacy programming over the next two years. The initiative will focus on helping community members become more comfortable using smartphones, tablets, email and other digital technology, with a particular emphasis on closing the digital divide.
During the conversation, Slaney also shared some lesser-known pieces of the library’s history, including the Venus de Milo statue that has overlooked the original Carnegie entrance for decades and the fact that children were once restricted to the library’s lower level until policy changes in the late 1970s.
As the library continues to invest in its facilities and expand its outreach efforts, Slaney emphasized that its mission remains the same: providing educational resources and services to everyone in the community while adapting to changing needs and technology.
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