Action on the Federal level to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences will have serious consequences for libraries all over Maine and the entire country. Your local library is often the last line of defense for people who need access to computers and WIFI to apply for employment, print important documents, and apply for social services. Cutting funding for IMLS in 2026 will make it harder and more expensive for your library to provide services, because the Maine State Library facilitates several state services as described on the poster. Please read the following statements from Maine Library Association and sign the Federal petition to continue funding IMLS and libraries all over the country.
>Thank you for your ongoing support for your local library.
>VPL Director, staff, and VPL Trustees
Take action here: bit.ly/ProtectLibraryFunding
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Statement from Maine Library Association:
On March 14th, President Trump issued an executive order calling for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency for libraries. While there is currently level funding for FY25, this action puts IMLS at serious risk.
The Maine Library Association Executive Board strongly disagrees with this action. The elimination of IMLS would negatively impact all Mainers who rely on library services. Federal funding is critical for the Maine State Library to provide important statewide resources and services. In FY24, the last fully appropriated grant, Maine State Library received $1,526,754 in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds. Each state receives federal funding through LSTA, and the overall ask for FY25 is $214 million. This would include roughly the same amount for Maine as in FY24.
While most library funding in Maine comes from local sources, federal dollars are crucial in building equity by providing resources to libraries with smaller budgets. Federal funding for libraries accounts for just 0.003% of the overall federal budget, and this incredibly modest investment ensures that all communities have access to essential library services regardless of local funding capacity. Libraries are open to all, and services are well used. In 2023, there were over one million visits to public libraries in Maine.
We call upon our members and all Maine residents who care about libraries to contact our Congressional delegation and ask them to take action to reverse the President’s executive order.
Take action here: bit.ly/ProtectLibraryFunding
