Connecting the Community Since 1957
CELEBRATE OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH ON
CANADA DAY July 1st
ARE YOU READY FOR THE
4th of JULY?
Wednesday • June 25, 2025
Giannoulias Awarding More than $1 Million in Library Tech Grants to Underserved Communities The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is awarding over $1 million in new grants to assist public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements, Secretary and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced today. According to the Secretary of State’s office, 88 public libraries are receiving a grant – totaling an amount of either $27,500 or $12,500 – depending on the size of the population they serve. “Libraries play a significant role in our communities, providing a place for every Illinoisan to connect, learn and explore,” Giannoulias said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that all libraries, regardless of their community’s location or wealth, have the resources to meet the needs of residents and expand their offerings, particularly when it comes to technology.” To qualify, the libraries must have a low tax base in relation to the population of their service area. In applying for the grants, libraries were encouraged to consider the technology needs of constituents. They can use the grants to help fund things such as adding hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, increasing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, assuring ADA compliance for library websites and purchasing adaptive
technologies that accommodate service needs for persons with disabilities, and incorporating patron self-checkouts. Because libraries receive most funding through property taxes, budgets are primarily determined by their local tax base. Property values vary widely around the state, leaving some local libraries without the funding needed to continue to provide essential services to their communities or to upgrade their technology infrastructure. In 2024, the office awarded grants to 113 public libraries where this disparity between tax base and service population exists. The 88 libraries that will receive funding this year are the next group in line for grant eligibility, utilizing the same tax base data for all public libraries in the state. Libraries will have two years to spend the grant money.
219•810•2000
SCAN HERE
7509 Calumet Avenue
Hammond, Indiana
FREE
ESTIMATES!
Aaron Vines
708.312.6799 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
vineshandymanservice@icloud.com
Video Games Aren’t as Bad as You Think by Heaven Berry Heaven is a 15 year old student who attends Unity Christian Academy. Heaven is full of life! He’s adventurous and loves to try new things. His favorite activity is volleyball and he loves video gaming. Do you ever worry that video games are only “rotting your child’s brain” or leading them nowhere in life? Many parents share this concern, believing video games are a waste of time and that outdoor activities are “better” for your overall health. While outdoor activities are undeniably important and healthy, video games can also be surprisingly beneficial in a number of ways. They can enhance cognitive reflexes, spark creativity, and even provide new perspectives on life.Video games aren’t as useless and damaging as parents may think they are. Video games can actually improve your child, if used responsibly and maturely. One thing video games can do is boost cognitive abilities—a term that refers to the mental skills used to think, learn, remember, and process information. These skills are crucial for tasks that require focus and organization, like a career in accounting where numerical understanding is key. Video games can strengthen the brain’s ability to process information, creating growth and maturity in these areas. For example, the game Roblox, among the most popular in the world, is played by hundreds of millions of people. This game helps develop friendship qualities, teamwork, and even stretches your kid’s creativity to a new level. Beyond bettering your cognitive skills, video games also can offer safe and engaging environments for fun and social interaction. With millions of games available online, players can find welcoming communities that promote enjoyment at a new level. As Cambridge Assessment English notes, “Research has shown that games are essential for healthy development in early childhood and beyond.” If a child isn’t in a particularly safe or respected position in their home, gaming could give them a sense of comfort and help
them to destress and focus on the good parts of their life like their friends and their love of the game. Now, playing video games can also help develop problem-solving skills. Our modern world owes much to the creativity of those who came before us, whose innovative thinking advanced technology and society. Without their contributions, we wouldn’t be nearly as advanced as we are now in technology. Examples include our everyday devices, our at-home appliances, and much more. Research from Michigan State University found that “both boys and girls who play video games tend to be more creative.” By playing video games, individuals can tap into their creative potential and discover new abilities. Creativity is what fuels humans to do more with what we have. If the odds are stacked against us, creativity and critical thinking can help us achieve what we did not think possible. For example, the popular game Terraria is similar to the game Minecraft, which holds endless possibilities to construct worlds and objects out of different virtual blocks. For example, people create massive maps or different creations that shock the community. There are countless ways to build something new. With all these things in mind, I also believe video games can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Playing too many video games is not good for you. Your eyes, brain, and body could all suffer from excessive video gaming. If you use your fingers for too long, you could damage them. If your eyes are glued to your screen for hours on end every single day, you risk the process of damaging your eyes permanently. And if your mind is only focused on video games 100% of the time, well you won’t have time to experience the other joys of life, like enjoying the outdoors or playing sports like basketball or volleyball with your friends. Playing video games isn’t all there is to life, and while it can be good for you in some ways, it’s very important to learn how to balance playing video games and doing other activities.Video games aren’t as harmful to your child as you might think. This essay is part of a series of perspectives written by students at Unity Christian Academy in South Holland. The topics cover some of the most pressing issues of our times and the opinions are of the writers themselves. We are grateful to UCA English Educator Hannah Morgan for organizing this partnership.
Read The Shopper Online! Visit issuu.com/myshopper
Buying or Selling in Illinois or Indiana?
Call Janice 708-302-8585
Janice Minton-Kutz Licensed Indiana & Illinois
(708) 302-8585 Cell janice.mintonkutz@cbexchange.com
Residental BROKER AGI
RUN YOUR LEGAL NOTICE IN THE SHOPPER
Call 708-271-8971