Libraries Celebrate National Library Week Facing Elimination of Federal Support

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): Elimination to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law

April 6-12, 2025 is National Library Week.

WHEREAS, libraries spark creativity, fuel imagination, and inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where individuals of all ages can explore new ideas and be drawn to new possibilities;

WHEREAS, libraries serve as vibrant community hubs, connecting people with knowledge, technology, and resources while fostering civic engagement, critical thinking, and lifelong learning;

WHEREAS, libraries provide free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming, ensuring that all individuals—regardless of background—have the support they need to learn, connect, and thrive;

WHEREAS, libraries partner with schools, businesses, and organizations, connecting the dots to maximize resources, increase efficiency, and expand access to essential services, strengthening the entire community;

WHEREAS, libraries empower job seekers, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners by providing access to resources, training, and opportunities that support career growth and economic success;

WHEREAS, libraries nurture young minds through storytimes, STEAM programs, and literacy initiatives, fostering curiosity and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime;

WHEREAS, libraries protect the right to read, think, and explore without censorship, standing as champions of intellectual freedom and free expression;

WHEREAS, dedicated librarians and library workers provide welcoming spaces that inspire discovery, collaboration, and creativity for all;

WHEREAS, libraries, librarians, and library workers across the country are joining together to celebrate National Library Week under the theme “Drawn to the Library”;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that April 6–12, 2025, as National Library Week. all residents are encouraged to visit their library, explore its resources, and celebrate all the ways that the library draws us together as a community

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent agency of the United States federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the United States, having the mission to "advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development." In creating IMLS, Congress observed that the federal library and museum programs are far reaching, spanning cultural, educational, scientific, and information policy matters. Congress declared in the institute’s authorizing legislation, “Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens,” and an important role of the federal government is to promote education and access to information for people of all backgrounds, wherever located.

The Agency helps to ensure that all Americans have access to museum, library, and information services, and invests in new and exploratory approaches, as well as proven and tested methods. IMLS funds work that advances collective knowledge, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement, as well as projects that support broadband access and advancing digital literacy, learning and education, civic engagement, climate change, and services that address historic and growing inequities. The Agency also builds capacity within the museum and library fields to enable better service to communities through workforce development grants and to enhance community decision making by sharing trends and data.

Elimination to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is facing significant disruption due to actions taken by the Trump Administration. On March 14, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy," which directed the elimination of the IMLS "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law," alongside several other federal agencies. This order has led to substantial operational changes.

On March 31, 2025, the entire IMLS staff of approximately 70-75 employees was placed on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and representatives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Staff were required to turn in government property, and their email accounts were disabled, effectively halting agency operations. This move has left the status of previously awarded grants uncertain, with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3403 stating that, without staff to administer programs, most grants are likely to be terminated.

On April 3, 2025, the National Museum and Library Services Board sent a letter to the IMLS Acting Director, Keith E. Sonderling (appointed by Trump on March 20, 2025), requesting clarification on the decision to place staff on leave and other related matters. The outcome of this request remains unclear as of now.

The IMLS, established in 1996 under the Museum and Library Services Act, has been the primary federal source of support for U.S. libraries and museums, with a fiscal year 2024 budget of nearly $295 million. Despite Congressional funding through September 2025 via a continuing resolution signed on March 14, 2025, the executive order has overridden this intent, sparking legal and public backlash. A coalition of 20 state attorneys A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration on April 4, 2025, to prevent the elimination of IMLS and other agencies.

Actions by the American Library Association

The American Library Association is fighting for IMLS to be preserved and to continue supporting our nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic, and special libraries.

Our policy and advocacy team in Washington DC is working with partners and library supporters across the country to advocate for IMLS.

ALA leaders are raising awareness in the media of the devastating impact that eliminating IMLS will have on communities. ALA is also working with chapters to engage members of Congress in their state and to educate their elected officials on the impact of federal dollars to libraries on their constituents. Finally, we are mobilizing our members and library lovers everywhere to contact their members of Congress, and to make their voices heard.

FAQ from the American Library Association.¹

1. FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS | ALA