On March 14, President Trump issued an executive order calling for a reduction in staffing and services of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The order also directs the Office of Management and Budget to reject any budget requests from IMLS unless they are for funds needed to shut down the agency.
IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, primarily through funds to state libraries and grants. Its annual budget is less than .01 percent of the federal budget. The current level of IMLS funding was authorized by Congress in 2018 with bipartisan support as part of the Library Services and Technology Act, first passed in 1996.
Funding has already been distributed through September 2025, so this may not begin to impact library budgets until the fall. It is unclear how grants may be affected. Kansas City, Kansas Public Library received $55,731.31 in funding this year, most of which goes toward our digital resources like ebooks and databases.
IMLS funds account for 30 percent of the State Library’s budget. In 2024, Kansas was allotted $2,109,780. This money helps support libraries across the state and provides resources for Kansas residents, such as:
- Summer Reading Program: The State Library helps distribute funding and coordinate local library access to the national summer reading program resources.
- Interlibrary Loan: IMLS funding supports courier services that allow libraries around the state to share resources.
- Statewide Services Librarians: The State Library employs several librarians to provide services and assistance to community libraries around Kansas
- Kansas Library eCard: Kansas residents use this to access databases, ebooks, and other digital items provided by the state library.
- Databases: Many of our databases are provided by or funded through the IMLS funding of the State Library, including:
- Bloom’s Literature: A comprehensive resource for the study of literature.
- Bookflix: Interactive experience that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks.
- Britannica/Britannica Escolar: Encyclopedia for general research in English and Spanish.
- Fold3: Provides convenient access to U.S. military records.
- Health Reference Center: Comprehensive, in-depth coverage of health topics.
- HeritageQuest Online: Census data, family records, and local histories.
- Issues and Controversies: Hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture.
- Job & Career Accelerator: Resources for job-seekers in all career exploration and application stages.
- Learning Express Library: Comprehensive test preparation, skills improvement resources, and career guidance for elementary students to adult learners.
- Mango Languages: Learn a brand-new language or improve your English.
- Nursing and Allied Health: Covers nursing, allied health, and alternative and complementary medicine.
- Today’s Science: Explanations of some of the most important advances in science
- Universal Class: Courses that are self-paced and instructor-led on various topics such as writing, computers, accounting, crafts, and careers.
- US Newsstream: The most recent premium U.S. news content and archives back to the 1980s.
- World Almanac for Kids: Age-appropriate reference delivered in a colorful, kid-friendly format.
- World News Digest: Hot topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture.
We understand that this is a confusing situation, and we’ve received many questions about what it means for our services. Here are some resources to help you better understand the situation:
- Read the full text of the executive order.
- Learn more about the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
- Read the FAQ from the American Library Association to better understand the executive order.
- Contact your local, state, and national elected officials for more information. You can find their contact information at usa.gov or the League of Women Voters.
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library is committed to serving our community. Whether or not we continue to receive support from IMLS through the State Library of Kansas, we will strive to provide the excellent services and resources that you have come to expect from us. Connecting members of our dynamic community with information, tools, resources, and welcoming spaces to enrich their lives will continue to be the mission of our organization.
