6-13-2025
In April I wrote an article about President Trump’s
Executive Order regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services. At that
time, Trump had appointed Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling as
Acting Director of the IMLS and the majority of staff had been placed on
administrative leave. Libraries across the country received half the funding
appropriated by Congress on their behalf. This was a departure from the
traditional full payment. It is not known at this time if payment of the other
half will be made.
Since then, President Trump has release his FY26 budget with
does not include any funding for the IMLS and would eliminate the only federal
agency that provides funding and services to public libraries.
There are currently several lawsuits against these actions
playing out in the courts. One of their arguments is that the Executive Order
disregards the role of the federal government’s three branches. Congress makes
laws and appropriates funds the president is meant to implement and spend. While
some of those suits have resulted in temporary restraining orders others have
not allowing some of the dismantling of the IMLS to continue before final
rulings are given.
Libraries systems across Wisconsin have worked together to
create the Speak Up for Libraries advocacy campaign. In additional to an
informative website providing basic background on the issue, they have also
distributed postcards for patrons to express their opinion to US Senators and
Congressional Representatives who also have a say on the future of the IMLS.
We have postcards and address labels for Senators Tammy
Baldwin and Ron Johnson and Congressman Bryan Steil available for residents to
express their opinion. In addition, there is a collection box for the
postcards. Those boxes will be collected in Milwaukee and bulk mailed.
Residents may also choose to mail them independently instead or voice their
opinions via a phone call or email.
The Walworth County Health & Human Services has given us
a second collection box for the summer. Every three years they conduct a
Community Health Assessment. Those survey results are used to create their
Community Health Improvement Plan and guide their work to improve quality of
life in Walworth County.
Anyone wishing to complete the survey may return it to the
collection box at most Walworth County libraries. We do have paper copies of
the survey and a QR code for the electronic version. A link is also available on the Walworth
County website by searching Community Health Assessment & Improvement.
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