Dear Colleagues:
On Friday, March 14, President Trump signed an executive order that targets federal funding to libraries and museums through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. IMLS’ entire program of service costs 87 cents per person (US population July 2024).
From the executive order:
This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.
The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.
Why this matters to you and to Massachusetts libraries:
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners receives $3.6 million from IMLS’ Grants to States Program. The MBLC uses these funds for statewide services for everyone, including:
- MBLC staff: 13 of the MBLC’s 23 staff members are at least partially funded through IMLS (5 fully funded, 8 partially funded)
- Statewide research databases
- The Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat)
- Summer Reading
- The Statewide eBook Program (Library eBooks and AudioBooks-LEA) Funding for the eBook platform and some eBook content.
- Statewide trainings for librarians to increase access for people with vision loss
- Data collection and reporting
- Federal funding also supports the E-Rate program
Key Points to remember:
- IMLS’ Grants to States Program (which is how Massachusetts and every other state gets federal funding for libraries) is in statute, Chapter 72 of Title 20 of the U.S. Code, so we’ll be getting more information to clarify the impact of this executive order.
- EveryLibrary has provided helpful statutory information
- The MBLC has been contingency planning for several months and if federal funds are eliminated or greatly reduced, it will act to preserve the core library services it provides.
- Everyone can take action to stop the targeted attacks on libraries.
Empowered by Libraries (MBLC)
EveryLibrary Petition: Stop Trump’s E.O. Attacks on Federal Funding for Libraries
Show Up For Our Libraries (ALA)
Federal Legislators: FIND YOUR MEMBER
State Legislators: FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR
Questions about MBLC services:
Is the State Aid to Public Libraries Program affected by federal funding? State Aid Grant Awards that public libraries receive through the State Aid to Public Libraries are fully funded by the annual state budget line 7000-9501. Not federal funding. However, all staff who work in the State Aid Unit are funded in part through federal funding. Data reporting through ARIS will continue.
What do I do if I have an LSTA grant from the MBLC? If you received a federal grant (LSTA) from the MBLC in July 2024, your grant is secure and you should proceed with your intended service. For libraries that recently were awarded Explore Grants, the MBLC is proceeding with grant disbursement as planned. Should that change the MBLC will reach out to individual grant recipients.
Are the grants from Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) affected by federal funding? The MPLCP is not federally funded. Governor Maura Healey and the State Legislature included $150 million for the MPLCP in the Economic Development Bill.
Are any of the MBLC services going to be immediately affected? Right now, statewide databases, ComCat, and the other services the MBLC provides (mentioned above) will continue. Should that change, the MBLC will notify the library community immediately.
The executive order raises many questions about which programs are statutory, and which are discretionary. In the days ahead, the MBLC will work with our state and federal partners to determine a course of action and provide you with more information as it becomes available. Please reach out with questions anytime.
Sincerely,
Maureen Amyot
Director, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners