On July 13, the ALA Executive Board issued a statement in response to the Montana State Library Commission’s decision to discontinue the Montana State Library’s ALA membership. The statement notes that the Montana State Library’s annual funding from the federal government through Institute of Museum and Library Services grants has increased 24% since 2019 thanks in part to ALA advocacy efforts, and that ALA has awarded more than $218,000 to 23 Montana libraries through program grants in the past two years. The Montana Library Association has also issued a response to the decision.
AL: The Scoop, July 13; Montana Library Association, July 11