It’s National Library Week and Funding for Libraries is on the Chopping Block

April 6-12 marks the 68^th annual National Library Week—a time to celebrate and promote the valuable role libraries and librarians play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

Montana’s 123 public libraries welcomed 3.3 million visitors last year – our families, friends, and neighbors–borrowing books, attending programs, accessing computers, and connecting with their communities. These vital institutions now face an unprecedented challenge.

There is a dark cloud hanging over this year’s National Library Week. On March 31, the Department of Government Efficiency, by orders of the administration, shuttered the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), likely eliminating a critical funding source for libraries nationwide. Loss of funding would disproportionately impact Montana’s rural, small-town, and tribal libraries – precisely the communities that need these services most.

Rural public library development has been federally funded work since the Eisenhower administration in 1956. Since its creation by Congress in 1996, IMLS has served as an independent agency to “advance, support, and empower America’s museums and libraries.” Despite making up just 0.003% of the federal budget, its impact has been immense. With only 70 employees, IMLS has supported 125,000 libraries across all 50 states – including the 67% of Montana public libraries serving rural communities.

In 2024 alone, the Montana State Library received $1.4 million in IMLS funds to support libraries statewide. These resources have helped local libraries improve literacy, provide digital access, preserve local history, expand e-book collections, and maintain efficient catalog systems. Though modest in size, these investments yield significant returns for Montanans. Elimination of this funding would threaten the services our communities rely on daily.

The potential loss of IMLS funding isn’t just a budget line item—it’s a direct threat to the fabric of our communities. When we fight for our libraries, we fight for equal access to information, for children discovering new worlds through reading, for job seekers improving their skills, for seniors staying connected, and for the preservation of our local heritage.

Libraries have always been there for us. Now they need us to be there for them. This National Library Week, as we appreciate all that libraries offer, let us also raise our voices to ensure they remain vibrant centers of community and learning for generations of Montanans to come. Our libraries’ future depends on what we do today.