Dear Community,
April is always one of my favorite months. It brings along the lovely days of spring, and also National Library Week, which takes place April 6-12 this year. The week helps us highlight the valuable role that libraries and everyday library workers play in strengthening our communities and transforming lives.
Unfortunately, this is also an uncertain time for libraries. As you may know, a White House Executive Order was issued on March 14 that called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the only federal agency that is dedicated to funding library services, with a mission to “advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.”
Funding for IMLS represents less than 0.003% of the annual federal budget, and despite the inclusion of IMLS operations in the approved 2025 budget, future funding is uncertain. On March 31, all IMLS employees were placed on administrative leave, which suspended all grants and contracts. (For more details on the Executive Order, please visit the American Library Association’s FAQ page.)
IMLS funding is provided to the State Library of Oregon, who then provides the funds to libraries throughout the state of Oregon in various ways. While the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library doesn’t directly receive funds from IMLS, these cuts will still affect us.
For example, the State Library operates a Statewide Database Licensing Program, purchasing usage licenses to a variety of useful databases for all libraries across the state. The goal of the program is to equip libraries with a core set of quality online information resources that support basic library services and meet information and research needs within their communities. This leads to efficient and effective use of funding, as it would be far more costly for every library to purchase a subscription independently.
To list all the ways in which IMLS funding supports our library and libraries and museums across Oregon and the rest of the United States would make this a very long newsletter. Other major programs that CBCPL makes use of that will be impacted due to this loss of funding includes access to Summer Reading Program materials, the Oregon Battle of the Books and Libros for Oregon, continuing education opportunities, and the Libraries Leading with Equity program.
Approximately two-thirds of the staff at the State Library are directly funded through IMLS, so suspending IMLS funding also takes away vital, supportive infrastructure for all Oregon libraries. Both the OSU Valley Library and the Benton County Museum will also be affected by the loss of this funding.
Please know that no matter what happens, the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library remains dedicated to serving our entire community in the best way possible. Thank you for your unending and generous support.
Best,
Ashlee
Related Resources:
The American Library Association has provided additional information about the potential impacts of this executive order, and has shared several ways that library patrons can express their support for the IMLS and libraries throughout the U.S.
• Urban Libraries Council: America’s Public Libraries Support IMLS
• IMLS Budget: 2025 Congressional Justification for Appropriations Request
• IMLS Strategic Plan 2022-2026
• Friends & Foundation of CBCPL: How to Support Your Library