Institute of Museum and Library Services Archives

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to Invest in Libraries graphic, with red and white text on black background

Library Advocates Stay in Motion

February 10 may feel like 100 years ago, but that date marked—for a fourth consecutive year—the administration’s threat to eliminate all library funding from the federal budget. As ever, library advocates responded with emphatic determination. The annual campaign to gather support for the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program began with ALA’s annual fly-in, the timing of which aligned with the … Continue reading Library Advocates Stay in Motion →

Incoming ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall addresses attendees at the second annual library advocacy fly-in in Washington, D.C., February 10.

Doubling Down on Strategic Library Advocacy

By Emily Wagner | February 13, 2020

This year, the fly-in aligned with the release of the White House budget proposal for FY2021, which—for a fourth consecutive year—lays out the closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). ALA responded to the budget proposal with a statement and call to action, and ALA’s incoming Executive Director Tracie D. Hall opened … Continue reading Doubling Down on Strategic Library Advocacy →

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to Invest in Libraries graphic

IMLS Receives $10 Million Increase in FY2020

By Kathi Kromer | December 20, 2019

For the third year in a row, American Library Association (ALA) advocates called, emailed, tweeted, and met with their members of Congress in Washington, D.C., and at home. ALA President Wanda Kay Brown said in a December 19 statement, “This is your win!” Congress appropriated $252 million for IMLS, including a $6.2 million increase dedicated … Continue reading IMLS Receives $10 Million Increase in FY2020 →

From left, Mikel Gonzales, Dominique Robinson, Sommer Kinsler, Kelsey Coston, Sade Wilkins, and Cade Langsdon are a few of this year's selected interns. Photo: Phil Daquila

Inclusive Internship Initiative Begins Another Chapter

By Diana Panuncial | June 18, 2019

“Libraries should be more inclusive, different-thinking, and innovative,” he said. “I want us to try and revolutionize libraries towards the better and change stereotypes.” Now in its third year, PLA’s III program offers summer internships designed to introduce students of diverse backgrounds to library careers. The III Kick-Off, a commencement where intern–mentor pairs attended sessions … Continue reading Inclusive Internship Initiative Begins Another Chapter →

Illustration of library in field receiving signals from towers (Illustration: © Auguste Lange/Adobe Stock)

Wi-Fi in the “White Space”

By Greg Landgraf | May 1, 2019

But the library is reaching them using an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant. The grant provides broadband Wi-Fi service to Huron’s parks through unused parts of the television broadcast spectrum. Often called “white spaces,” these parts of the spectrum were freed up when most broadcasters switched from analog to digital signals in … Continue reading Wi-Fi in the “White Space” →

Connect to Connected Learning

By Linda W. Braun | May 1, 2019

“Library staffers still are uncertain what the [CL] framework actually encompasses and how to integrate it into library services for and with teens,” says Lance Simpson, youth services director at Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Public Library. Simpson is a member of the project Transforming Teen Services: A Train the Trainer Approach (T3). A joint endeavor of the … Continue reading Connect to Connected Learning →

ALA #FundLibraries Campaign Kicks Off for FY2020

By Kathi Kromer | March 11, 2019

In a statement issued shortly after the budget was released, American Library Association (ALA) President Loida Garcia-Febo said, “As discouraging as it is that the administration has again proposed eliminating IMLS, the bipartisan support in Congress over the past two years gives us reason to hope.” The president’s proposal slashes IMLS yet again despite his … Continue reading ALA #FundLibraries Campaign Kicks Off for FY2020 →

Blockchain Reaction

By Carrie Smith | March 1, 2019

That year, Alman, a lecturer at SJSU, and Hirsh secured an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant to facilitate a national conversation on blockchain’s potential in libraries. By the time they hosted a national forum in summer 2018, cryptocurrency markets had soared and then tumbled, and the news had shifted to “crypto winter.” But … Continue reading Blockchain Reaction →

New Task Force for Federal Funding for Libraries

By Alan S. Inouye | February 14, 2019

In fall 2018, ALA’s Washington Office engaged in a policy strategy retreat looking forward to the 116th Congress and the 2020 elections. Discussions addressed federal funding, improved broadband access, copyright, and other topics. The ALA Committee on Legislation (COL) then invited representatives from the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) to explore possibilities of … Continue reading New Task Force for Federal Funding for Libraries →

Vote tally in House on S. 3530, Museum and Library Services Act, December 19

Museum and Library Services Act Passes

By Kathi Kromer | December 20, 2018

Thanks to the persistence of American Library Association (ALA) members and bipartisan support of congressional leaders who introduced the legislation, Congress is currently on record as saying that America’s libraries are a national priority. ALA thanks Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Jack Reed … Continue reading Museum and Library Services Act Passes →

Lame-Duck Library Advocacy

By Kathi Kromer | December 6, 2018

Passage of the MLSA would reauthorize the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), reinforcing the agency—and America’s libraries—as a priority for the federal government. The proposed MLSA mirrors the previous authorization, which expired in 2016. The new legislation authorizes IMLS through 2025 and contains improvements to enable more libraries on tribal lands to participate … Continue reading Lame-Duck Library Advocacy →

Museum and Library Services Act Introduced

By Kathi Kromer | October 1, 2018

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) led the Senate version of the bill (S. 3530) with 11 cosponsors: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Angus King (I-Maine), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.). Rep. Raúl Grijalva … Continue reading Museum and Library Services Act Introduced →

Latest Library Links

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Andrew Albanese writes: “As the pandemic continues to impact the country, Penguin Random House has announced that it is extending its temporary digital license terms for libraries through December 31, 2020. Under the terms of its temporary program, PRH is offering libraries the option to license ebooks and digital audio for one-year terms at a 50% prorated price as an alternative to the existing two-year term (for ebooks) or perpetual access (for digital audio). A cost-per-circulation model is also available.”

Publishers Weekly, Aug. 3
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Talia Evans, media relations specialist at Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library, writes: “As stay-at-home orders and social distancing recommendations were handed down as COVID-19 spread, the first thought on the minds of so many at KCPL was, ‘How can we still help our community?’ More importantly, what about those who rely on us for access to a computer and the internet? After figuring out the basics, the focus quickly shifted to the digital divide that exists in our city. Citywide, 13% of all homes don’t have a computer and 17% are without the internet. To start, we partnered with the Kansas City Public School District and Connecting For Good, an organization that accepts donations of computers and computer accessories.”

ODLOS Intersections Blog, Aug. 6
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Eva Galperin, David Greene, and Kurt Opsahl write: “It is ironic that, while purporting to protect America from China’s authoritarian government, President Trump is threatening to ban the TikTok app. Censorship of both speech and social media applications, after all, is one of the hallmarks of the Chinese Internet strategy. While there is significant cause for concern with TikTok’s security, privacy, and its relationship with the Chinese government, we should resist a governmental power to ban a popular means of communication and expression.”

Electronic Frontier Foundation, Aug. 4
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Suzanne LaPierre writes: “As indicated by the ALA’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, libraries have an obligation to act on behalf of racial justice with genuine systemic change, not just statements or book lists. Hosting a book club on a topic that explicitly addresses race relations in the US is among the items on the ALA’s plan for action. One example is the Toledo Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library BLM Book Group, facilitated by King Branch Assistant Manager Franco Vitella and Teen Librarian David Bush. The first meeting was on July 30.”

Public Libraries Online, Aug. 7
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The latest Libraries Transform Book Pick, an award presented by Booklist and the American Library Association in partnership with OverDrive, is Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma (Grove Atlantic, April). All public libraries in the US with OverDrive subscriptions will be able to lend unlimited ebook copies of Book of the Little Axe September 14–28.

AL: The Scoop, Aug. 10
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In a now-viral promotional video from Harris County (Tex.) Public Library’s Barbara Bush branch, cowboy-hat–wearing hype man Curbside Larry shares an irresistible pitch for using the branch’s curbside pickup services. “We got shelves and shelves of books, Blu-rays, and DVDs, and we’d like nothing better than to take care of all your reading, research, and entertainment needs,” Larry exclaims. “What’s all this cost? Just three low payments of zero, zero, zero dollars!”

I Love Libraries, Aug. 10
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Dantiel Moniz, Sarah Penner, M. O. Walsh, Syed M. Masood, and Rumaan Alam will be featured authors at the United for Libraries Virtual Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, from 6–7 p.m. Eastern on August 6 during the first-ever United for Libraries Virtual Event. This free event will be livestreamed on the United for Libraries Facebook page.

United for Libraries, Aug. 4

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