Cuts to federal agency set to weaken North Country libraries

From North Country Now, April 1, 2025 (no joke!)

All employees of the Institute of Museum and Library Services were placed on administrative leave Monday, March 31. The came following an executive order signed on March 14 proposing sweeping cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

For North Country libraries, the effect will be indirect, but consequential.

Small, rural libraries in New York rely heavily on support from their public library systems, which in turn, rely heavily on support from the state library.

The New York State Library receives $8.1M from the IMLS through their Grants to States Program.  This funding supports: 55 staff positions; administrative support and oversight of 7,000 libraries and 72 systems of all library types, including public, school, and academic; day-to-day operation of the State Library, which includes manuscripts, rare books, and digitized historical documents; programs that serve the public (Ready to Read at New York Libraries, Summer Reading at New York Libraries, Talking Book and Braille Library).

Paulette Roes, Executive Director of the North Country Library System, adds, “Incapacitating the IMLS sends the message that libraries are not important. In the North Country, we know that isn’t true. We have 66 public libraries in our service area – not to mention our partners in schools and colleges - that work to support literacy, access to information, curiosity, and critical thinking. That work is not only important; it is vital.”

According to the American Library Association, IMLS funding comprises less than 0.003% of the federal budget.

The North Country Library System is a support organization that delivers services to the 66 public libraries located in Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties. Through shared library services, cooperative purchasing, coordinated literacy campaigns, and training, NCLS maximizes sharing, creativity, and innovation to help improve the lives of North Country residents at home, at work, at school, and at play.

Photo online courtesy of Matt Wall