100 Main Street, Alton, New Hampshire 03809, United States
Federal
Reduction
An executive order issued Friday, March 14th, 2025 calls for the reduction of statutory functions and elimination of non-statutory functions of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency.
Reduction
Reduction
The IMLS : (1.) supports libraries and museums in all 50 states and U.S. territories, (2.) administers federal grants to states; which determine how funds are spent,
(3.) administers discretionary grants to individual library entities.
of Funds
What can I do?
We need every library supporter to show up and make their voices heard. Here are concrete, effective actions you can take now:
- Send a message to your Senators and Representatives urging them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
- Call your Senators and Representatives urging them to overturn the executive order and protect IMLS funding.
- Send this action alert to five people in your network.
- Write a letter to the editor in your local newspaper explaining why IMLS is important and the impact of federal dollars on communities.
- Share your story for ALA’s story collection about the impact of federal funding on your community.
- Sign up for future action alerts from ALA.
- Join ALA or renew your membership.
- Become a Supporter of the American Library Association
Potential
Gilman Library
The New Hampshire State Library currently has $1.5 million of IMLS money to fund its interlibrary loan program (ILL), as well as the online catalog and van service to support it. The State Library also uses IMLS money to provide Talking book services to New Hampshire residents who are physically unable to see, handle or process printed material comfortably, and Libby, the eBook, eAudio and digital magazine platform.
"NHAIS is a program of the New Hampshire State Library, a division of the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. NHAIS funding is made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act."
Impacts on
Gilman Library
Gilman Library
A Guide to New Hampshire Downloadable Books for eBook and Audiobook Users explains:
"New Hampshire Downloadable Books was formed in 2006 as a downloadable audiobook service ... and has expanded to offer eBooks and digital magazines, as well as the digital audiobooks.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the New Hampshire State Library."
You can read more about this program by clicking the link below.
Gilman Library
Gilman Library
Gilman Library
According to the NH Library Association (https://nhlibrarians.org/) : "In 2024, NH libraries shared 237,000 items via the interlibrary loan program. NH libraries statewide benefit from this important service which saves significant funding by allowing libraries to share materials."
In 2024, the Gilman Library received 1,041 requests from other libraries and loaned out 749 items to other libraries in the state. Additionally, our participation in NH Downloadables totaled 10,283 for the year.
If funding becomes unavailable, this has the potential to affect all New Hampshire libraries, including the Gilman Library, by reducing access to these materials.