Protect Library & Museum Funding

You may have heard that on March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing some federal agencies to reduce functions outside the scope of what is required. This inculdes the Insititute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as well as six others. 

I want to share some information with you so we can be well informed and feel inspired to to reach out to our representatives. Most of the information I have comes from the American Library Association (ALA), , the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA), the American Alliance of Museums, and various news websites.  


What does IMLS do?

Established in 1996 under a Republican-led Congress, IMLS provides critical funding, research, and policy support for museums and libraries across all 50 states. It helps strengthen these institutions through:

  • Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants – Funds distributed to state library agencies to support public, school, and academic libraries.
  • Grants to States Program – A required federal program that enables libraries to offer digital resources, workforce development programs, and essential community services.
  • Museum Grants – Funding that helps museums improve exhibits, accessibility, and education programs.

IMLS distributes thousands of grants nationwide, totaling in recent years to more than $200 million annually, directly benefiting communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.


What does this Executive Order do?

This announcement orders that seven agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, be eliminated to the maximum extent of the law and the agencies are ordered to reduce their services and personnel to the minimum amount required to perform the functions required by law. 

The Executive Order would effectively dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services —eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums and libraries. This move directly contradicts public sentiment, as 96% of Americans support maintaining or increasing federal funding for lirbaries.


Didn't Congress just fund IMLS?

Yes! On March 14th, a continuing resoultion was passed that provides funding through September 2025. However, this Executive Order undermines Confress's decision. 

At this time, it is unclear how the executive order may impact current or future grant rounds.


What will this do to libraries?

If fully implemented, this order will have devastating effects on libraries across the U.S., especially in rural areas where federal grants are crucial.

Library funding from grants supports:

  • Physical and digital collections
  • Literacy and workforce development programs
  • Access to technology and community resources
  • Summer reading programs for children
  • Training and resources for librarians and educators

Large library systems may be able to absorb the cuts, but small and rural libraries—often the only source of free books, internet access, and educational programs within their commiunties—will be hit the hardest. All of this is at risk, even though libraries receive only 0.003% of the federal budget while making an enormous impact.


What can I do?

The golden question! Contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to overturn the Executive Order and protect IMLS funding. This form is simple and takes away any stress surrounding contacting your Representative. You simply fill out the form and the following email will be sent to your Representative:

"I urge you to reverse the President’s executive order from March 14, which seeks to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the only federal agency that funds library services nationwide.

IMLS is vital to our community, serving students, families, veterans, businesses, job seekers, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. With just 0.003% of the federal budget, librarians provide free, non-partisan services that benefit everyone. Eliminating IMLS would have serious, lasting consequences for communities everywhere.

In 2018, Congress overwhelmingly reauthorized IMLS, and President Trump signed it into law. The March 14 order contradicts this bipartisan commitment to ensuring access to essential information services.

I strongly oppose defunding IMLS and call on Congress to overturn this executive order and maintain at least level funding for IMLS in fiscal year 2026."


Other ways you can help are:
  • Share the link to the form above to spread awareness.
  • Write a letter to the editor in your local newspaper explaining why IMLS is important and the impact of federal dollars on communities.
  • Share your story for ALA’s story collection about the impact of federal funding on your community.
  • Consider supporting your local libraries by becoming a friend of the library or volunteering.

Takeaway

Libraries and museums change lives, providing free access to books, knowledge, and resources that strengthen communities. This Executive Order threatens that mission. Please share this information with your people and visit a library today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scavenger Hunts

Image
I have recently made all of my scavenger hunts for one year and wanted to share them in case anyone needs ideas! I started doing these in April. They were so popular that I made two for the summer months since kids were coming in more often. If you are planning to start your own hunt, I'll describe what I do now after a few months of trial and error. I make all the designs in Canva. My library pays for a Pro account which makes it a lot easier to make these. I started off making these too small. We got so many complaints because they were too hard to find. I now make them about the size of my palm and give them a white background so it isn't as hard to find. I learned very quickly that we needed two sets of each theme. We had a few bunnies and weather clouds walk away which makes the hunt impossible to complete. We now have an extra set ready to go at our reference desk.  If you don't already have one, ask for a Cricut and the software that comes with it. It has made the pr...
Read more

Dog Man Day

Image
What is Dog Man Day? Dog Man fans of all ages are invited to join the supa epic event with activities and games. We'll play Dog Man bingo, a personality test, assess your sniffers, and more. Dog Man is Go! That don't make no sense! But we like it! I first came across this idea from a post from Ontarian Librarian . She was able to get a Comic Creator booklet and some other cool items to make her event a hit. I took a few of her ideas and made them my own but she is the reason I made this event. I learned about Dog Man Day after Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea came out. Scholastic made an event kit with lots of activities. I read through them and picked the ones I knew I could do. With the power of these two sources, I was able to put together a plan for my own event. What I did to prepare I would say that reading at least one Dog Man book is a requirement for running this program. I read up to Brawl of the Wild and I can see why the series is so popular.  Staffing was simpl...
Read more

Write a Letter to…

Image
I created a new writing station at my library where kids of all ages can write a letter to a popular character from a book or TV show. I wanted to encourage kids to practice writing and have fun. Writing can help kids with many skills such as storytelling, critical thinking, and school readiness. The station includes a sign, mailbox, postcards, and golf pencils. I made the mailbox out of cardboard and used velcro to keep the door closed.  The mailbox is there so we can see what guests are writing (maybe send them to marketing too) and to promote imaginative play!  We started with the all-popular Bluey. I left this out for about a month and we got over 200 letters! I don't think any other character could have pulled off so many letters. I checked the mailbox at least once a week and refreshed the postcards as needed. I included a few of the Bluey postcards we have received below for your entertainment.  "I want to come to your birthday." "How are you? When will you ma...
Read more