The public library has received several pieces of welcome financial news recently, with library administrator Pam Deiters saying that with the help of state Sen. William Mahar (R-Orland Park), $115,000 is included in the state budget for a bookmobile.
Because the vehicles are custom-made and because special training is required for those staffing them, it will be next spring before the bookmobile is able to begin making its rounds, she noted.
Although the state funding will cover most of the purchase price, about $30,000 will be needed for a computer system for the vehicle and about $6,000 to outfit it with books and periodicals.
However, some of that cost may be offset by this year’s literacy grant provided by state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who donates scholarship money he is allotted as a legislator to area libraries.
This year, Tinley Park’s library will receive $10,000 from McCarthy, up $4,000 from last year, according to Deiters. Last year’s grant was used to supplement their collection of large-print books, CD-ROMs and books on tape, she added.
Also, the library board recently approved a five-year contract to provide services to Orland Hills, which does not have a public library.
Tinley Park’s library will receive 83 percent of the tax levy assessed in Orland Hills for library services, plus the per capita grant, $1.25 per resident, Orland Hills gets from the Illinois State Library, Deiters said. Orland Hills will donate $4,500 to Tinley’s library.
The total contract amounts to “upwards of $75,000” annually, she said.
