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The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has recently put their entire staff on leave, thanks to the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).It’s a small agency with only about 70 employees, but they are responsible for grants that are awarded to museums and libraries.
So what exactly is the IMLS?
According to NPR, IMLS “is an independent federal agency that provides grants to libraries and museums across the country.”
While they are not large, and a lot of libraries do get funding from elsewhere, they help to provide necessary grants to help a lot of libraries. For example, for libraries specifically, in 2023 they funded projects like “a pilot program in Iowa to help library staff address patrons’ psychological needs and basic library functions (books, computers, internet) for various Native American tribes.”
A small but mighty service!
And once again, grants that were already awarded are unclear if they are going to even be awarded now. So libraries that were counting on specific funding may not receive that money.
Of course, this goes beyond libraries as well and into museums which are just as important.
You may be asking yourself “why should I care about this? It’s tiny. They don’t matter.” Well, let me tell you.
Libraries are more than just a building. They are:
- They are a community center.
- They are a warming center or a shelter during the day for the unhoused.
- They provide education programs.
- They provide afterschool care for children.
- They provide a wide range of unedited information (in most places, except where bans/censoring may occur).
- They generate awareness.
- Provide jobs.
- A welcoming space for everyone, no matter your socio-economic status.
Museums, well they:
- Many provide free access to learn about history.
- Preserve history.
- Research history.
- Educate the population on history and art.
- Provide jobs
- A welcoming space for everyone, no matter your socio-economic status.
These lists aren’t exhaustive, it’s just a few. But these institutions are so important and if grants go away to limit access to these buildings, or hinder what they do….the impact felt will be massive.
STOP DEFUNDING OUR LIBRARIES!
