News

IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services)

On March 14, 2025, the White House issued an executive order directing further cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

We have received some questions from our patrons, and want to keep you informed about the possibility of significant impacts to library services.

What is the IMLS?

The IMLS serves as the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries across the United States. Funding of the IMLS makes up 0.0043% of the overall federal budget. IMLS funding supports programs and services used in more than 1.2 billion in-person patron visits every year across the country and millions of virtual visits.

How does this affect our patrons?

Due to the support of the tax dollars of people within our community, the Parchment Community Library will continue to operate with our usual hours and staffing, and a building full of wonderful material. However, there are many libraries that would be significantly more affected, and for our Parchment community, there are some services that would likely be curtailed or lost without IMLS funding:

IMLS funding supports the Library of Michigan, which administers the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) and MeLCat, the statewide interlibrary loan system. MeLCat allows libraries across Michigan to lend and share materials with each other. In 2024 alone, more than 980,000 items were loaned to patrons throughout Michigan.

If the IMLS loses funding, patrons may lose the ability to request items from libraries across the state through MeLCat. This would mean that after September 2025, patrons could lose access to MeLCat, and would be able to access materials only available within their own library or by visiting reciprocal libraries

Patrons may also lose access to MeL-funded databases that provide critical resources on education, medicine, business, genealogy, and history, as well as magazines, newspapers, auto and home repair, and over 44,000 reference books.

What else does the IMLS fund?

Libraries in Michigan and nationwide also receive IMLS grants for services like:

• Early literacy development and grade-level reading programs
• Summer reading programs for kids
• Homework and research resources for students and faculty
• Braille and talking books for people with visual impairments
• Employment and job search assistance

What happens next?

While IMLS funding for MeL and MeLCat is secured through September 30, 2025, its future beyond that date is uncertain. We are working closely with the state library to understand and navigate these potential changes. We will immediately inform our community of any changes to library services.

For more information, please see the joint statement from seven library and museum associations in Michigan, including the Michigan Library Association, the Michigan Museums Association, and the Historical Society of Michigan.