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A group of U.S. senators, comprising Susan Collins (R–Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), have issued a letter to Keith Sonderling, the acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In their correspondence, they emphasize the significant contributions libraries and museums make to local communities.
In a bipartisan memo dated March 26, the senators expressed their roles as primary authors of the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 2018, which was enacted during the early Trump administration. They reminded the current administration of its duty to uphold the law’s directives as intended. The letter also included Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, as a recipient.
Referencing the $294.8 million appropriated by Congress for the IMLS in fiscal year 2024, the senators detailed the allocation of these funds. Over $211 million has been designated for libraries, while museums are set to receive $83.7 million. The letter highlighted that IMLS grants are essential for library services nationwide and characterized museums as vital contributors to local economies, noting their support of over 700,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of $50 billion across the United States.
The letter also urged for the renewal of IMLS funding in line with existing statutory guidelines. “We expect that the Administration will implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 in a manner consistent with these allocations enacted in Fiscal Year 2024,” the senators stated. They added that it is crucial for the Administration to allow IMLS to effectively engage with and support both libraries and museums as intended by Congress and authorized by the MLSA.
The American Library Association (ALA) has expressed its support for the senators’ call for federal funding for the IMLS. ALA President Cindy Hohl publicly thanked the senators for their commitment to the value of libraries, which she noted resonates with the majority of Americans who consider these institutions vital to their communities. This response is part of the ALA’s ongoing Show Up #ForOurLibraries advocacy campaign.
John Chrastka, the executive director of the advocacy group EveryLibrary, shared his perspective with PW, expressing appreciation for Congress’s proactive stance on oversight regarding IMLS’s commitments to state partners. However, he remained cautious, stating, “I’m not done waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
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