ESSEX – Eighteen local school districts will be receiving around $22,000 in grants from the Illinois secretary of state’s School Library Grant program, Senator Patrick Joyce announced today.

The purpose of the grants awarded by the Illinois State Library are to help public schools expand the collection of library books and materials for students.

“Reading is an essential part of education. I’m happy knowing so many excellent schools in the South Suburbs, Kankakee and surrounding communities will benefit from these grants,” Joyce said. “The support brought by the School Library Grant program will help our children and grandchildren have more access to books now and in the future.”

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• Kankakee SD #111 – $3430.50
• Flossmoor Elementary School District #161 – $1675.50
• Manhattan Elementary School District #114 – $1099.50
• Bradley Elementary School District #61 – $951.75
• Peotone CUSD #207U – $1,017.00
• Herscher CUSD #2 – $1,215.00
• Coal City CUSD #1 – $1571.25
• Wilmington CUSD #209U – $906.00