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WiLS Supports the Institute of Museum and Library Services

WiLS staff

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a critical funding source for libraries and museums in the US. These funds allow organizations to improve and innovate, develop new services and collections, advance education and programming efforts, better serve community industries in workforce development, enhance access to their available resources, and more. In an executive order signed on Friday, March 14th, President Trump ordered the IMLS and six other federal agencies to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” On Monday, March 31st, all IMLS staff were placed on leave.

WiLS believes the IMLS should continue to be funded and staffed at the levels authorized by Congress. If working with more than 700 libraries and cultural organizations, including museums, has taught us anything, it’s that our members are a most efficient group and, embedded in their professional DNA is a mastery of cooperation and collaboration that allows them to do a lot with very little. Diminishing the IMLS will result in neither cost-savings nor efficiencies. 

WiLS itself has directly worked on many projects funded by the IMLS with outcomes that have value far beyond the dollars invested. In partnership with public libraries, library systems, and state agencies, we’ve produced research that benefits the broader member community. We’ve created projects and services that benefit the ecosystem of libraries and cultural organizations in Wisconsin and beyond. We’ve helped organizations plan, create, and share access to their cultural heritage materials via digital collections. Additionally, our member libraries, library systems, museums, and other cultural organizations have themselves turned IMLS investments into better services, collections, and programming to build tighter and more resilient communities.

There are many organizations issuing statements and helping to coordinate advocacy efforts to protect IMLS and IMLS’ congressionally budgeted funds, including the American Library Association and EveryLibrary. Visit their websites to learn about specific actions you can take to continue to show your support for IMLS.

Here in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the System and Resource Library Administrators’ Association of Wisconsin (SRLAAW) have been working together to make it easy for you to advocate for libraries. DPI has launched a webpage dedicated to providing real-time updates, critical information, and resources related to federal funding for public schools and libraries across the state, including this interactive map that illustrates how federal funding impacts libraries statewide. 

Here are some steps you can take:

In addition to these important steps, please also try to take care of yourself and your colleagues during this unsettled time. We, just like you, have had to close the computer and walk away for a little bit to protect our own wellbeing. But our community is strong and our collective work is important. We can weather this, as with most things, by working together and supporting one another.