Annual Report: SaveIMLS and the Fight for Federal Funding in 2019
IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Cutting this funding would mean libraries will lose access to the grants that allow them to replace crumbling technology and infrastructure that many rural and urban communities depend on.
Back in March 2019, President Trump’s FY2020 Budget proposal targeted the only federal library programs for complete elimination. That was the third year the president’s budget called for the total shutdown of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). And we don't see it being any different in 2020 either.
In 2019 rallied Americans from all walks of life and across the political spectrum against his proposed cuts. Libraries, museums, and archives are too important. Over the last three years through our SaveIMLS.org campaign, EveryLibrary has helped empower over 20,000 Americans to send a message to Congress to reverse those cuts and expand support for the IMLS.
We need your help to get ahead of this fight by donating today. We can reach tens of thousands of Americans - people like you - who care about libraries, museums, archives, and the humanities and activate them for what is right. Help us to break through the partisan noise with targeted messages to activate them. Don't wait for it to be too late. Donate today so we're ready when the President's budget is released in early February.
IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Cutting this funding would mean libraries will lose access to the grants that allow them to replace crumbling technology and infrastructure that many rural and urban communities depend on. Each state library puts IMLS funding to work in critically important ways that are high-impact for their states. Public libraries often provide the only broadband access to rural communities and many Americans in all areas often rely on libraries to apply to jobs, access training to learn new skills. Many entrepreneurs use the resources found in the library to get a competitive edge in an increasingly global marketplace.
Download the entire Annual Report today!
At the close of 2019, Congress responded to these calls-to-action and went beyond restoring IMLS to add $10 million in new funding to this unique and important federal agency. As we look ahead to the 2020 fight, EveryLibrary endorses and supports the “one dollar per capita” funding request put forward by the state librarians through COSLA, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies organization. We know Americans from all walks of life are interested in supporting a pro-library legislative, policy, and funding agenda.
Since we have no reason to believe that the Trump Administration will change its course or attitude about federal support for libraries, we expect that a core component of our Libraries 2020 campaign will be to engage and activate an expanded cohort of Americans in support of IMLS. The role of libraries and museums, along with the whole ecosystem of the humanities and the arts, is important to the American public and resonates with certain policymakers. Our goal is to again work collaboratively with other library organizations to fight any proposed cuts by activating a willing and interested American public about this key library program.
Make a donation today and help us support libraries in 2020
Through our Libraries 2020 campaign we plan to continue to advocate for libraries, museums, and archives along with the humanities and arts & culture through alliances, partnerships, and coalitions with other associations and issue-organizations.