After dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, which was later reinstated by a federal court, President Trump signed appropriations bills this month that increase funding for libraries, American Libraries magazine reports. The legislation allocates $212.5 million—a $1.4 million increase—for “library programs run by IMLS through the Library Services and Technology Act,” according to the ALA. Though funding for the IMLS itself decreased slightly, due to the reduction in staffing there. Funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program, which is run predominantly through school libraries, was flat at $30 million. The office that administers the program was […]
Libraries
NYPL Offers Immediate ‘Game Changers’ Downloads
The New York Public Library is offering ebooks and audiobooks of all six books in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” series, the inspiration for the Heated Rivalry series on Crave and HBO, without a wait. Starting Saturday January 24 and running through February 14, anyone with an NYPL library card can download the books immediately through the Libby app. Previously, Heated Rivalry had a wait list of approximately 3,000, the Cut reports, and the NYPL tells PL that as of this morning there were more than 13,000 downloads for the series, and counting. The NYPL said on their website that they are […]
OverDrive Responds to Proposed DC Library Bill
OverDrive ceo Steve Potash has submitted extensive testimony in response to a proposed bill that would loosen restrictions on digital book lending in Washington, D.C. The “Library E-book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act of 2025,” proposed by some district council members, aims to prohibit libraries from paying more to license an item than the public would and avoid limiting the number of licenses and loans the library can engage in. Because many publishers will simply decline to license ebooks at all under such conditions, this bill would only go into effect if “10 other jurisdictions with a combined population of at […]
IMLS Reinstates Grants
After a federal judge overturned the dissolution of the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, the agency has reinstated all of their federal grants. “This action supersedes any prior notices which may have been received related to grant termination,” according to a notice on their website. “Grantees should access the agency’s electronic grants management system for further information.” “Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states,” American Library Association president Sam Helmick said in a statement. “Every public, school and academic library and their patrons benefit from the research findings and program […]
Preliminary Injunction Halts Cuts to IMLS
Twenty-one states won a preliminary injunction against the Executive Order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The court also denied a request by the defendants, which include President Trump, to stay the decision for seven days. “This Executive Order violates the Administrative Procedures Act in the arbitrary and capricious way it was carried out,” Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. writes in an order from the US District Court of Rhode Island. “It also disregards the fundamental constitutional role of each of the branches of our […]
Judge Issues “Narrow TRO” Blocking Further Dismantling of the IMLS
The American Library Association has won an initial victory in its lawsuit to block the dismantling of the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. US District Court Judge Richard J. Leon agreed to “issue a narrow TRO preserving the status quo as of this Order.” That restraining order prevents for now “any further actions to dissolve IMLS or its operations,” including no further layoffs or placing of employees on administrative leave. Additionally, the agency “shall not further pause, cancel or otherwise terminate IMLS contracts or fail to fund such grants or contracts” for any reason other than contractual non-compliance. […]