On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order which calls for a reduction in staffing and services of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The order also directs the Office of Management and Budget to reject any budget requests from IMLS unless they are for funds needed to shut down the agency.
IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, primarily through funds to state libraries and grants. With an annual budget of less than .01 percent of the federal budget, the current level of IMLS funding was authorized by Congress in 2018 with bipartisan support as part of the Library Services and Technology Act, passed in 1996.
The executive order’s reduction in funding may not begin to impact library budgets until the fall since 2025’s funds have already been disbursed. It is unclear how grants may be affected. Valley Center Public Library receives substantial funding through direct grants and services from the State Library of Kansas, and through grants and services through our regional library system.
IMLS funds account for 30 percent of the State Library’s budget. In 2024, Kansas was allotted over $2.1 million. This money helps support libraries across the state and provides resources for Kansas residents, such as:
- Summer Reading Program: The State Library helps distribute funding and coordinate local library access to the national summer reading program resources.
- Interlibrary Loan: IMLS funding supports courier services that allow libraries around the state to share resources.
- Statewide Services Librarians: The State Library employs several librarians to provide services and assistance to community libraries around Kansas
- Kansas Library eCard: Kansas residents use this to access databases, ebooks, and other digital items provided by the state library.
- Databases: Many of the databases available through the State Library of Kansas are provided by or funded through the IMLS funding of the State Library, including: Job & Career Accelerator, HeritageQuest Online, Britannica/Britannica Escolar, Health Reference Center, Learning Express Library, Mango Languages, World Almanac for Kids, and many more.
For more in-depth information about the potential impact of the executive order, please check out these links:
Read the full text of the executive order.
Learn more about the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Read the FAQ from the American Library Association to better understand the executive order.
Contact your local, state, and national elected officials for more information and to let them know your feelings on IMLS support for libraries. You can find their contact information at usa.gov or the League of Women Voters.
Valley Center Public Library is committed to serving our community. Whether or not we continue to receive support from IMLS through the State Library of Kansas, we will strive to provide the excellent services and resources that you have come to expect from us.
Our Mission: We embrace the timeless role of the public library as guarantor of free, unrestricted and unbiased access to information. We are dedicated to being the best library for the community we serve by providing outstanding personalized library service to everyone.
