By Erika Thibault
The library and museum world is reeling from a new executive order issued on March 14, 2025, targeting the Institute for Museum and Library Services, which provides federal funding to support libraries in all 50 states.
The order eliminates funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Studies (IMLS), where all staff have been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately. In 2024, California received the most IMLS funding nationwide, including nearly $16 million for libraries through the Grants to States program, an additional $1.8 million in other library grants and nearly $9 million for museums.
Sonoma County Library has benefited from IMLS grants funding specific programs for our community as well as from several statewide programs funded by IMLS, including an eBooks for All grant; Stay & Play grants for children and caregivers; the History & Genealogy Playback Memory Lab grant; SonomaFi hotspot lending, mobile WiFi pop-up units for large groups; and Read Together story kits, for parents to help their young children learn how to read.
Sonoma County Library currently receives about $20,000 in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from the California State Library for the eBooks for All grant. We also rely upon other State Library initiatives including a New York Times subscription and staff development opportunities—all funded through LSTA. Our library will adjust to these cuts; other libraries will not fare as well.
We are devastated to hear that the IMLS is being cut, and staff are being put on leave. We encourage everyone who loves libraries to reach out to their federal elected officials and tell them to fight for IMLS before it’s too late.
Erika Thibault is the Sonoma County library director. This message first appeared in the April edition of the county’s Library News.
