Greater Availability of Kids' Cards at Local Library

Effingham Public Library board members updated the borrowing privileges at the library to comply with the Cards for Kids Act.

The change corresponds with the Unit 40 School District's ability to offer free meals to all students. Under this change, all children in grades Pre-K through 12 can get a library card if they meet income guidelines. The ability to obtain the free card extends to non-residents.

The Library Board also updated the paid leave policy to clarify compliance with the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The provision deals with how leave is granted. The Act is efffective January 1, 2024.

Board members also got updates on work on the levy for the coming fiscal year and on work on the library building's humidity controls, which should be completed by November.

There was also discussion on challenges to library materials. It's a hot topic in Illinois and nationally, but there hasn't been a challenge at the Effingham library since 2013. That challenge over teen reading items was handled by adding items to address a patron's concerns, rather than deleting them.