You may be aware that in a new executive order, President Trump has targeted for closure the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency charged with distributing Congressionally-approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients.
While attacking any library is undemocratic, the IMLS is important to us in particular. New York State has a very effective and well-loved network of library systems, and much of their work has been largely funded by the IMLS.
We belong to the Mid-Hudson Library System, and they make possible our inter-library loan program, databases like Transparent Languages and Job Now, extra funding for Overdrive purchases, training for trustees and staff, summer reading programs, and very critically, construction grants that enable libraries to keep their buildings open and safe. Mid-Hudson receives 78% of their funding through the NYS Division of Library Development, which is fully funded by IMLS; without it they will cease to exist, and so will we, in our current iteration.
The American Library Association has compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions about the IMLS closure. At the end are suggested actions, including:
- Send a message to your Senators and Representatives urging them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
- Call your Senators and Representatives urging them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
- Send this action alert to five people in your network.
This is the statement of the New York Library Association detailing the dollars for critical services that New York receives from the IMLS.
They also have an email you can sign to be sent to legislators asking for library support.
Every Library, a national library advocacy group, has this statement about the Executive Order. The statement also includes a petition to Congress that you can sign and an email to our governor and state representatives about the importance of maintaining funding for libraries.
Whatever your political leaning, this executive order, contravening Congressional support and funding for the IMLS, is a critical threat to all libraries and to us in particular.
Congressman Mike Lawler’s phone number is: 202-225- 6506.