On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute for Library and Museum Services (IMLS), the only federal agency that supports America’s thousands of libraries. We believe this is an attack on libraries, and on the freedom to seek information that reflects the diverse needs of communities.

It is important to note that the Executive Order states that “non-statutory components and functions … be eliminated” and that “entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.” Congress was explicit in the 2018 Museum and Library Services Act that the institute is statutorily required to send federal funding to state libraries under the Grants to States program. However, we are gravely concerned that there will be an attempt to eliminate this statutory program.

To learn more about the potential effects of this Executive Order, the American Library Association has created an FAQ you can find here: FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS | ALA

In general, the Institute of Museum and Library Services provides funding to states in two ways: through grants, as well as through the “Grants to States” program. This “Grants to States” program is called the Library Services and Technology Act, or LSTA for short.  California receives the largest portion of all of the states, because of the formula used to distribute the funds.  In FY 2024-25, California received about $16M, which goes to the California State Library. To see how libraries in California have utilized LSTA funding, you can view this infographic or visit https://www.cla-net.org/page/8889.

LSTA funding fills gaps in library budgets that are already stretched thin. These funds improve outcomes for adult learners, provide summer learning programs for youth to prevent summer learning loss, support employment, career development and skill building for job seekers, give access to materials in braille and audiobooks for people with visual impairments, connect rural and underserved communities to the internet where residents may not be able to afford high-speed internet connections, and provide a wide variety of grants for local libraries to create programs that meet their users’ needs. This is just a small list of the benefits received by communities through LSTA funding. As the American Library Association notes, “Library funding draws less than 0.003% of the annual federal budget yet has enormous impact in communities nationwide.”

The loss of LSTA funds would be devastating to our communities, and to libraries.  Most local governments would not be able to find the local funds to close the gap, and the community would go without these services.

We encourage all communities to contact their congressperson and tell them to continue the funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Find your congressional representative here. 
Find your senator here. 

Through our collective voices, we hope these damaging cuts to the IMLS can be stopped.

In Community Spirit,

Carol Frost
CEO
Pacific Library Partnership