What is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)?
- IMLS is the federal agency charged with distributing Congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum and archives program grant recipients.
What’s happening at the Institute of Museum and Library Services?
- An Executive Order issued on March 14 by the Trump administration states the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) shall be reduced to its “non-statutory components and functions …shall be eliminated to the maximum extent…”
- On March 31, the entire staff of IMLS (around 70 people) was placed on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days
- The order is likely to face legal and political challenges
- On April 4, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the IMLS and two other agencies. Learn more about the lawsuit.
- May 22: Staff at the Institute of Museum & Library Services are returning to work thanks to an order from a federal judge. Grants in plaintiff states have begun to be restored. This development is welcome news, but it is limited and temporary.
- On April 7, the American Library Association, also announced it was suing the Trump administration about proposed cuts to IMLS.
- Follow a timeline of events and get more information on the RAILS website.
- On April 4, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the IMLS and two other agencies. Learn more about the lawsuit.
How much federal tax money goes to the IMLS?
- IMLS funding makes up .003% of the federal budget
- Funding for IMLS amounts to $0.75 per capita annually
How will this impact the La Grange Public Library and its services?
- Federal funding makes up less than 1% of the La Grange Public Library’s annual budget in the form of the Per Capita Grant
- Most funding for the La Grange Public Library comes from property taxes
- The lack of per capita funding will hit many rural libraries, and libraries, small and large, that do not have the tax base to fund the library.
- Federal IMLS funding through September 2025 has been approved but has not been disseminated to the state libraries; no timeline for receiving these funds has been provided
- UPDATE: Despite certainty that funding was guaranteed through September 2025, the newly appointed Acting Director of IMLS, Keith Sonderling, notified several states, including California, Connecticut, and Washington, that their grants were cancelled on April 3. Though Illinois was not named, IMLS funding cuts would significantly impact libraries and library delivery throughout the state. Read the joint statement from the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS).
- RAILS, which facilitates the delivery of books and library materials to support interlibrary loan services, relies on the IMLS for over $1 million of its $15 million annual budget
- Additional information about IMLS funding and its impact on the state is provided in a statement from the Illinois Secretary of State, IMLS Funding Cuts: A Message from Alexi Giannoulias
How Can I Advocate for Libraries and IMLS?
- Read the FAQs provided by the American Library Association, including a section on What Can I Do? which details ways to contact your representative and how to further advocate for libraries
- Follow RAILS, EveryLibrary and the American Library Association on social media. Like and share their posts advocating for library support.
- Sign up for email alerts from EveryLibrary and the American Library Association
- Read the Illinois Libraries Agencies of Impact data study for key statistics on how libraries benefit Illinoisans. RAILS has also been sharing some of this information to their social media. Please like and share.
- Share this information with friends and family!
Can I support the La Grange Public Library financially?
- Patrons can make financial contributions to the Library at www.lagrangelibrary.org/donate or www.lagrangelibrary.org/friends-of-the-library
Important Takeaways
- Information about IMLS funding will be communicated to the Library staff and Board of Trustees as it becomes available
- The La Grange Public Library Board of Trustees and staff are committed to serving the community and providing exemplary library service to the best of our ability.