The illinois state library will use funds to support the goals of their five-year plan for FY 2023-2027, which reflect the purposes and priorities of the library services and technology act (LSTA)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Illinois State Library $8,696,216.67 under the Grants to States program (CFDA 45.310) on October 1, 2025, to support the Illinois library community's five-year strategic plan (FY 2023–2027) aligned with Library Services and Technology Act priorities.

The Illinois State Library distributes funding through competitive subawards and cooperative agreements to eligible public, academic, research, school, and special libraries and consortia throughout Illinois. Supported activities include access to electronic databases, computer instruction programs, homework centers, summer reading initiatives, digitization of special collections, e-books and adaptive technology services, bookmobile operations, and targeted outreach to children, families, teenagers, adult learners, seniors, and unemployed individuals. The award advances three strategic goals: extending library services and access to information for all Illinois residents; positioning libraries as educational anchors supporting education, information fluency, and lifelong learning; and providing quality library and information services through innovation in collection development, community engagement, and best practices.

The recipient organization is the Illinois State Library, operating under the Secretary of State, Illinois, with administrative oversight in Springfield, Illinois. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This is a formula grant distributed according to population-based allocation; Illinois receives annual allotments during the approved five-year planning cycle.

Specific goals include positioning the illinois library community: 1) to extend library services for all illinois residents by providing access to information and ideas; 2) as an educational anchor by providing opportunities to support education, information fluency and lifelong learning; and 3) to provide quality library and information services through innovation in collection development, community engagement, and best practices.