Selected State Reports

State Documents

■ Illinois Birds: Vireos, by .lean W. Graber, Richard R. Graber and Ethelyn L. Kirk, for the Illinois History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign 61820 (August 1985), 38pp.

This fairly technical, but highly readable study discusses the spring migration, distribution, nesting habits and populations, nesting cycle, fall migration, food, and specimen data of seven different types of vireos. It is nicely illustrated, has numerous maps, graphs and tables, and is the 10th and final paper in a series on Illinois birds. The series is part of the survey's regularly published "Biological Notes."

■ Illinois Coal Bond Fund, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Rm. 300, 325 W. Adams, Springfield 62704 (September 1985), 21pp.

Illinois has the largest recoverable reserves of bituminous coal in the country, To take advantage of this situation and to expand the use of coal, the state must seek out and support the most promising coal technologies available. The Coal Bond Fund is designed to do just that. At present the fund is supporting three projects aimed at utility markets and four industrial-scale demonstrations; each is described in this brochure.

■ Landslide Inventory of Illinois, by Myrna M. Killey, Jennifer K. Hines and Paul B. DuMontelle, for the State Geological Survey Division, Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 615 E. Peabody, Champaign 61820 (1985), 27pp. plus map.

Most landslides in this state are not life-threatening, but they do cause millions of dollars worth of damage. There are seven different types based on geological materials and kind of movement. Geologic conditions, other natural factors and human use of land determine whether a landslide will occur. Human activities may trigger a landslide; it is also possible to prevent or stabilize landslides.

Other Reports

■ Strategies for Maximizing the Contributions of Small Business and Entrepreneurship to Economic Development, Illinois Development Council, P.O. Box 256, Springfield 62705 (August 1985), 29pp.

Illinois is among the 14 states with the least small-business employment; at the same time, self-employment grew between 1980 and 1982 by 5.3 percent compared to a national average of 4.3 percent. Much research has been done on the characteristics of those who start small businesses; that research provides the basis for programs designed to assist entrepreneurs and small-business owners. In addition to discussing such background information, this pamphlet describes a model for entrepreneurship education; it follows a previous publication entitled "Illinois Management Model for Economic Development," also prepared by the council.

■ Implementing Educational Reform in Illinois, Chicago Panel on Public School Finances, 53 W. Jackson, Suite 1730, Chicago 60604 (November 1985), 46pp.

The major emphasis of the General Assembly's much publicized education reform package of 1985 was on accountability, not on programs. Moreover, $470 million is required if Illinois is merely to return to the 1976-77 levels of support and assure a moderate implementation of the reform package. Other states have done much more. In addition to this 46-page report, the Chicago panel also has available an 18-page executive summary of the report and a 10-page paper entitled "Implementing Education Reform in Chicago."

■ A Cost Comparison of Congregate Housing and Long-Term Care Facilities in the Midwest, Housing Research & Development Program, University of Illinois, 1204 W. Nevada, Urbana 61801 (September 1985), 139pp.

Congregate housing offers independent apartments for those elderly capable of assisted, independent living, in contrast to long-term care facilities. This study revealed that between 20 and 30 percent of the elderly who eventually reside in long-term care facilities could live in congregate housing. Cost savings for such housing range from $300 to $6,072 per resident per year. In addition to such quantifiable cost savings, there are numerous quality of life factors that favor congregate housing.

Items listed under State Documents have been received by the Documents Unit, Illinois State Library, Springfield, and are usually available from public libraries in the state through interlibrary loan.

Anna J. Merritt

March 1986/Illinois Issues/31