By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
In March of this year, President Trump named Keith E. Sonderling, the deputy secretary of labor, as the new acting director of the IMLS. The IMLS is the Institute of Museum and Library Services and according to their website, the IMLS “is an independent federal agency that supports libraries, archives and museums in all 50 states and U.S. territories.” These grants and funds support these institutions in a wide variety of ways which include helping them innovate, foster programs to create opportunities for lifelong learning, and work to promote both cultural and civic engagement in these spaces. This agency also works to conduct research and develop polices related to these institutions.
Sonderling was named the new acting director after Trump signed an executive order which shrank seven federal agencies, including the IMLS. According to NPR, “ to a statement from AFGE Local 3403, which represents IMLS workers, the agency's staff was notified by email about being placed on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days, after a "brief meeting between DOGE staff and IMLS leadership." Employees had to turn in government property, and email accounts were disabled.”
According to the American Library Association (AMA), the IMLS provides “the major of federal library funds,” which libraries depend upon to provide these crucial programs which benefit the community.
NPR reported that “The IMLS says it awarded $266 million in grants and research funding to cultural institutions last year. This money goes to help staff, fund maintenance and create new programs. In comparison, the projected 2025 budget for the National Endowment for the Arts was $210 million.” These funding cuts will impact employment of local librarians. According to Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners: “Thirteen of the MBLC’s 23 staff members are at least partially funded through IMLS (5 fully funded, 8 partially funded). These staff provide support for preservation, special populations, library advisory, and outreach to friends and trustees. While State Aid to Public Libraries is funded by the state, all staff who work in this program are funded in part through federal funding.”
These budget cuts will effect critical access to research databases, patrons ability to access interlibrary loans, the library eBook/audiobook program, as well as access to local grants, which the Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners report: “The Federal Grant program program directly funds local library services and programs addressing community needs ranging from early literacy, preserving local history collections, workforce development, and STEM/STEAM programming to name just a few.”
With recent cuts to the IMLS, it is more important than ever to show up for your local libraries. What are ways that you can support your local library?
The Westwood Public Library shared five free ways to support your local library. These include: using your library card to check out a physical book, ebook, audiobook, or an item; attend library events/programs and spread the word to increase attendance, follow your local library on social media/engage with their posts, engage with library advocacy by following groups such as the ALA and the MBLC to stay in the loop, and finally, contact elected officials about securing library funding. All of these ventures are applicable to supporting your local library.
The Walpole Public Library encouraged patrons to share stories about what the library means to you and what the library has done to improve your life.
The Friends of the Medfield Public Library encouraged patrons to purchase items from the friends bookshop, as all proceeds go to supporting the library program as well as materials for patrons. Each library under the Hometown Weekly umbrella has a Friends of the Library program, which is a group of volunteers that organize programs, fundraisers, and book sales to help support the library; support the friends program or join the friends.
Other ways to support the library are voting in local elections, advocate for your library by signing petitions, participating in advocacy campaigns, sharing information regarding the importance of libraries, and contacting your local, state, and national representatives to let them know that you support library funding.
For more information, please visit your local library or contact your local library.
