A Message From the PLA President Regarding IMLS
On March 14, the Trump administration issued a new executive order to gut the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Public Library Association (PLA) strongly supports the American Library Association’s (ALA) statement opposing this order.
PLA is coordinating with our partners at the Urban Libraries Council and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries to voice our support for IMLS and its value to public libraries and their communities nationwide. We released our statement, but we know no one can tell your library’s story better than YOU.
ALA has great tools to help tell your story on ALA’s Show Up for Our Libraries webpage. Your federal, state, and local elected officials need to understand the services IMLS supports, such as digital literacy, workforce development, access to health information, access to government information and public library data, and the efficiency of these shared resources. They must hear directly from you about how IMLS has supported and made a difference for your public library and community, including National Leadership Grants, subgrants from your state library agency, or shared services (like interlibrary loan or statewide database access) enabled through your state library agency.
I also encourage you to look to your state library association. They are working hard to keep you updated on information and next steps recommended for your state and region. This is a time where it is important to look to each other for support and sustain our communications.
PLA and ALA staff are here to help. Keep an eye out for information about upcoming webinars and town halls from ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office. Be sure to subscribe to ALA Action Alerts to receive timely updates on policy issues and learn how you can support libraries at the federal level.
Above all else, please lean into your values in this moment and continue to do the mission driven work that makes a difference in your community. Your work is vitally important to help our patrons be successful in attaining their goals and live their best lives. PLA is here to support you.
Michael Lambert
President, Public Library Association
Tags: #imls #supportlibraries
