By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Many have heard about the slashing of government funding and how this will effect our libraries. Cyndi Hoffman, the director of the Fluvanna County Library, and countless other librarians across the state of Virginia and all 50 states and territories are concerned with losing funding for critical programs and community outreach.
On March 14, President Trump stated the purpose of this executive order was to “continue the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.” The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which provides grants to libraries and museums nationwide, has been effectively shuttered and its staff placed on administrative leave.
This decision has resulted in the cancellation of previously approved grants and halted the processing of new applications. The move has drawn criticism from library advocates and Democrats in Congress, who argue that the IMLS plays a vital role in supporting libraries, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The White House and the Department of Labor defend the decision, stating it will reduce bureaucracy and eliminate “divisive, anti-American programming” in cultural institutions.
In Virginia, IMLS funding supports programs and services for the state’s system of 94 public libraries, the Library of Virginia, and other cultural institutions. The IMLS Grants to States Program is a primary source of federal funding for library services in Virginia, impacting libraries across the state.
Under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), IMLS administers the LSTA, which provides funding for a wide range of library services, including technology upgrades, digital literacy programs, and access to information resources, including programs like Find It Virginia, which provides 24/7 free access to online databases for the public.
Other Supported Institutions
Last year, Virginia received $9.7 million from IMLS, including $4.3 million for the Library of Virginia, dedicated to supporting the library’s goals for the next five years, which include developing community libraries for lifelong learning and civic engagement, providing access to information and cultural heritage to develop an informed community, and enhancing training for library leadership and staff to adapt to a changing environment. It has also supported the state’s newspaper archive program, adult services consulting and public library infrastructure.
The order directed the offices to “reject” funding requests if they were inconsistent with the president’s directive. The office had seven days to file a plan, but Trump appointed a new IMLS director in the closing days, which could have led to the office’s delay in submitting its plans.
“We will be most affected by the Find It VA cuts (if/when) they happen, these are all the online databases that the state library provides for us,” said Library Director Cyndi Hoffman. “We may also lose training opportunities, support staff from the state library, E-rate funding (reimbursement for our Internet costs) and some of the other categories to a small degree.”
The executive order has a trickle down affect for not only libraries but universities and historians as well.
The Library of Virginia, one of the oldest state libraries and archives in the nation, recently entered its third century of service to the commonwealth. With more than 130 million items in its collections, the library is the primary global resource for exploring Virginia’s history, culture and government. While serving as the official state archives, they also support the records management and preservation needs of other state and public agencies and administer funding and consultation to public libraries across the commonwealth.
The Library of Virginia was created by the General Assembly in 1823 to organize, care for, and manage the state’s growing collection of books and official records, many of which date back to the early colonial period. It houses the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia government, history, and culture available anywhere.
The library’s printed, manuscript, map, and photographic collections attract researchers from across the country and the world, while the library’s websites provide collection-based content and access to its digital collections for those not able to travel to Richmond. In addition to managing and preserving its collections, the library supplies research and reference assistance to state officials, provides consulting services to state and local government agencies and to Virginia’s public libraries, administers numerous federal, state, and local grant programs, publishes award-winning books on Virginia history, provides educational programs and resources on Virginia history and culture for students and teachers, and offers the public a wide array of exhibitions, lectures, book-signings, and other programs. All of this is in jeopardy.
According to Dennis Clark, the Librarian of Virginia, it is “extremely unlikely” the Library of Virginia would be able to make up any funding cuts to its statewide initiatives. He states that 16 percent of the library’s budget comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and this funding supports between 30 and 35 positions, which accounts for 25 percent of the Library of Virginia’s workforce.
These funding cuts would affect rural areas like Fluvanna. Fluvanna County Public Library and school libraries in particular depend on the online databases, summer reading programs, and interlibrary loans that IMLS funding provides. Clark said in a statement that, “libraries are the nexus of community and civic engagement, and are available to every Virginian, regardless of education, income, or status and the elimination of the IMLS puts that in jeopardy.” He adds that the library expects the funding from the grants to remain available through the end of the fiscal year, which closes Sept. 30.
To combat this, the Friends of the Library is asking for community support. Senator Jack Reed (RI), a supporter of library funding has begun circulating his “Dear Appropriator” letters in support of federal library funding. FOL is asking the community to urge your senators to join their House counterparts in supporting libraries in next year’s federal budget. The deadline for your senators to sign these letters closes by May 19.
“As the courts deliberate on the Administration’s attempts to eliminate IMLS and ED, it’s critical that Congress includes funding for these agencies and their library-focused programs in next year’s budget—otherwise, they won’t be able to operate, regardless of the outcome of the court cases,” said Kevin Maher, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the American Library Association.
FOL is driving the campaign further by having community submit comments and stories about “What Does The Library Mean to You…” This collection will be shared with state and federal officials.
To send stories and comments or to get more information regarding writing senators, contact fluvannalibrary@gmail.com.
