SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced 340 public libraries and school districts will be sharing more than $1.2 million in “Back to Books” grants.

These grants will help schools and libraries acquire print books to improve collections and engage readers.

Centralia Regional Library District applied for and will receive a nearly $5,000 “Reading Realities Update,” grant.

The funds will allow the library district to develop and expand two relatively new and high demand collections: urban fiction and graphic novels.

The “Back to Books” grants were awarded using federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds provided to the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Grants to States program.