[SCLA] SCLA Advocacy Update: IMLS Elimination Temporarily Stopped

[Anthony Giansante]

Colleagues and Friends,

We want to make you aware of a significant development regarding the future
of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a vital source of
federal funding for libraries nationwide.

On May 1, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued
a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump Administration’s directive
to eliminate IMLS. This action, brought forth by the American Library
Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME), comes just days before the planned layoffs of
all IMLS staff on May 4. Here is a copy of the temporary restraining order
<https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AMERICAN-LIBRARY-ASSOCIATION-et-al-v.-SONDERLING-et-al-1_25-cv-01050-No.-36-D.D.C.-May.-1-2025.pdf>
.

This court order provides critical breathing room. However, it is only a
temporary measure. The case is still under review, and the future of IMLS
remains uncertain.

This is where we come in.

We must continue to advocate for robust federal support of libraries by
urging Congress to fully fund the IMLS in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
These funds directly support essential services in our libraries like:
grants, innovation, workforce development, digital equity, and more.

We must continuously remind them that libraries are not luxuries – they are
lifelines! Remind them that we work to provide critical access to
information, technology, education, and opportunity for people of all ages
and backgrounds. Tell our congressional representatives that across Suffolk
County, we see every day how library services increase the patron’s quality
of life, connect communities, and bridge opportunity gaps. Without IMLS,
these critical resources are at risk.

We encourage every SCLA member to visit ALA’s Fund Libraries Initiative
<https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries?utm_source=PPA&utm_medium=action&utm_campaign=fy26fl-afteraction>
today. There, you can:


   -

   Contact your elected officials with a few clicks
   -

   Share stories from your library that demonstrate the importance of
   federal funding
   -

   Amplify the message across your networks


Let’s show our representatives that library funding is not optional, it is
essential. Remind them that we are directly involved with our communities
and we know the importance of funding. Lastly, remind them that we are
always informed and that we vote.

Thank you for your time and attention.

On Behalf of the Suffolk County Library Association Board,


Anthony Giansante

President

Suffolk County Library Association


-- 

Anthony Giansante (he/him)

Head of Emerging Technology
631-725-0049  // www.johnjermain.org
201 Main Street, Sag Harbor NY
<https://www.youtube.com/@jjmemlib>
<https://www.tiktok.com/@johnjermainlibrary>
<https://www.facebook.com/john-jermain-memorial-library>
<https://www.instagram.com/jjmlibrary/>
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