Federal Budget Request Seeks to Defund Libraries - Again

It seems like just yesterday we were fighting to fund library services from a federal level. Under IMLS, the Federal government awarded $5,608,864. to Pennsylvania in the “Grants to States” program in the current fiscal year. This is only a portion of what comes back to PA.

On Monday, March 11, 2019 the White House released its budget proposal for FY2020. For a third time, the administration has proposed to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which provides approximately $189.3 million in direct funding to libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The proposal also cuts the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program administered by the Department of Education.

What do we need you to do?

Between now and March 25, contact your Representative in the House - Scott Perry (10th District) or John Joyce (13th District) - and ask them to sign a "Dear Appropriator" letter. This letter indicates to the Appropriations Committee chairs that there is support for funding LSTA and IAL.

The LSTA letter is being jointly led by Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Don Young (R-AK). The IAL letter is being led by Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Don Young (R-AK) and Jim McGovern (D-MA). Use this online for to email your representative and ask them to sign on to both letters. The more signatures we have, the better our chances will be to protect funding for libraries across the country.

Stay tuned for a similar call to action for the Senate in the coming days.