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    Show Up For Our Libraries logoOn April 3, several states received written notification from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Acting Director Keith Sonderling that their IMLS grants were cancelled. At time of writing, the states include California, Connecticut, and Washington. In a statement, ALA President Cindy Hohl said “Withdrawing library grants is a callous move at any time, but downright cruel at a time when it’s getting harder for many Americans to make ends meet. ALA calls on every person with a library story to remind their Congressmembers and elected officials at every level why America’s libraries deserve more, not less funding.” On April 4, the attorneys general of 21 states sued the administration for attempting to eliminate IMLS and other agencies.

    ALA Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office, Apr. 3; California State Library, Apr. 3; Connecticut State Library, Apr. 4; Washington Secretary of State, Apr. 4; The Art Newspaper, Apr. 4

  • Latest Library Links

    • 1d

      Excel logoDominic Bayley writes: “I used to be clunky in Microsoft Excel, not knowing the most efficient way to do things. That was before I learned some helpful shortcuts. Now I move around my tables super quickly and efficiently. Here are some Excel shortcuts every user should know.”

      PCWorld, Feb. 9

    • 2d

      World Factbook emblemMartin Holland writes: “The Central Intelligence Agency has taken The World Factbook, one of the oldest and most well-known sites on the internet, offline. Old pages are still accessible via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The World Factbook has been around for more than 60 years and went online in 1994.” The Trump administration has discontinued collection of or cut off access to an estimated 3,000 data sets.

      Heise Online, Feb. 5; NOTUS, Feb. 2

    • 2d

      Two figures placing a jigsaw puzzle pieceMaya Marchel Hoff writes: “Iowa public and charter schools would not be able to enter into agreements with public libraries providing students with access to books and other materials, under a bill advanced by Iowa lawmakers February 4. The legislation, House Study Bill 636, was advanced by the Iowa House Education Committee, 14–9. It is the latest effort by Republicans in the legislature to limit children’s access to content and materials they view as obscene.” ALA President Sam Helmick and 10 other people testified against the bill, while two spoke in support.

      The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Feb. 4

    • 3d

      IMLS logoJaimie Seaton writes: “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant cycle. But this time, it has unusually specific criteria. In cover letters accompanying the applications, the institute said it ‘particularly welcomes’ projects that align with President Donald Trump’s vision for America. The solicitation marks a stark departure for the agency, whose guidelines were previously apolitical and focused on merit. Former agency leaders from both political parties, as well as those of library, historical, and museum associations, expressed concern that funded projects could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American history.”

      ProPublica, Feb. 6

    • 3d

      Screencap from The Librarians featuring a woman entering a door with Librarian written on it.Matthew Carey writes: “The Librarians premiered on PBS February 9, after a robust theatrical and festival run that saw Kim A. Snyder’s documentary earn awards across the country. The film examines the coordinated effort by conservative groups like Moms for Liberty to ban a wide range of books at public schools and public libraries nationwide, and the abuse librarians have received for defending the right of children to access reading material, including books with antiracist or LGBTQ themes.” The film is streaming free on the PBS website until May 9.

      Deadline, Feb. 4

    • 3d

      A ladder reaching to the moonAmanda Galliton writes: “When people talk about leadership in schools, the focus often lands on titles: principals, administrators, and department heads. Yet some of the most impactful leadership happens without a formal title. For school librarians, leadership frequently begins with self-leadership: the ability to intentionally guide our own actions, mindset, and professional growth in service of students and the school community. For school librarians, self-leadership is not optional. Without strong self-leadership, it is easy to become reactive rather than intentional.”

      Knowledge Quest, Feb. 3

    • 4d

      Marble running through a wooden labyrinth with numerous holesViolet Fox writes: “To be unexpectedly unemployed in the US is to be in a state of desperation. If you haven’t been out of work lately, it’s a particularly challenging time. The labor market is cooling, and people are struggling to find work, especially younger workers and people of color. There has been a sharp increase in the number of ‘ghost jobs,’ job listings that never result in a hiring. The job search is inherently demoralizing and difficult; consider making changes in your workplace processes that make it less dehumanizing.”

      ACRLog, Feb. 5

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