Trump Order Threatens Libraries
How many places can you visit that offer free admission and programs for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, religions, and economic statuses? The answer is your local library. Visiting my library in Oneida, I am always greeted with a warm hello and welcoming smile from staff. I find busy community rooms, children’s activities, tutor rooms, an art gallery, a tech studio, chair yoga, ukulele lessons, concerts, newspaper readers, shelf browsers and so much more. Our local libraries offer free virtual tutoring, tax preparation for seniors, and early reading programs.
Many services, necessary repairs and upgrades are funded by grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In 2024, 21 local libraries received over $1.4 million in construction grants through IMLS. These funds support essential services, not extras.
The Trump administration’s directive to gut IMLS threatens our libraries and our museums. All IMLS staff have been placed on administrative leave, and work on processing grants for 2025 and 2026 has stopped including funding to improve internet access in rural areas, construction grants and summer reading programs. This will have a devastating effect on our libraries.
Trump, Musk, MAGA billionaires and their MAGA enablers in Congress continue to take services and resources from our communities, families and neighbors to empower and enrich themselves. Gutting IMLS is just the latest attempt to control the free access of knowledge to the people.
We must act to support our libraries. Contact your Congressional representatives John Mannion or Elise Stefanik, as well as our NYS officials, State Senator Joe Griffo and State Assembly members Brian Miller, Marianne Buttenschon, and Robert Smullen. State officials must advocate on our behalf. Urge them to support and protect the IMLS and our libraries. Generally, when services are lost, they are not replaced. Please act now to preserve what we have before it is too late.
Katherine Wojciechowski
Oneida Castle
Local Libraries Receive Construction Grants | Education | wktv.com Statement on IMLS Staff Administrative Leave – Every Library
New York | Institute of Museum and Library Services
Funding Opportunities | Institute of Museum and Library Services
Librarians Are Mad As Hell At The Trump Administration. They Think You Should Be, Too.
