The Institute for Museum and Library Services & York Public Library

Mar 21, 2025 | News

On Friday, March 14th, President Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

IMLS is the only federal agency that supports libraries, museums, and archives in all 50 states and U.S. territories. It does so by way of grants from the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA).

 

The IMLS represents just .003% of the federal budget, which translates into programs and services used in more than 1.2 billion in-person patron visits every year across the country, and many more virtual visits.

The elimination of these monies will negatively impact the services and resources Maine’s libraries provide to our residents. Last fiscal year, the state of Maine received $1,526,754.

Federal funding in Maine goes toward:

  • Providing high-speed internet to 243 public libraries through the Maine School and Library Network
  • Supporting interlibrary loan (ILL) delivery service to over 260 libraries statewide, ensuring Maine residents have access to more than 10 million items (last year, York residents borrowed approximately 12,000 items via ILL delivery)
  • Providing e-books and e-audiobooks to all Mainers through CloudLibrary (York residents downloaded 12,500 items last year)
  • Providing those who are blind or visually impaired with large print and recorded books mailed to the patron for free
  • Supporting online databases offered through the Digital Maine Library. This includes popular platforms used heavily for homework, business and career development, research, test preparation, genealogy, and much more.
  • Providing the Books by Mail program to homebound individuals and Maine residents who live in rural areas without a local library
  • Delivering professional development training to library staff through consultations and workshops
  • Support for Maine InfoNet for technology support and training for shared library catalogs statewide, building a strong connection for resource sharing statewide, and Digital Maine Library tech support and maintenance

How can you help? If you object to the elimination of these funds and the adverse affect it will have on library services, we encourage you to contact our Congressional delegation:

Senator Susan Collins: www.collins.senate.gov

Senator Angus King: www.king.senate.gov

Representative Chellie Pingree: www.pingree.house.gov

Many thanks for your support.

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More Information:
About IMLS
IMLS in Maine
More News from YPL