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It's Time to Support Libraries—At Every Level

On March 14, 2025, the President signed Executive Order 14115, titled "Executive Order on Government Efficiency and Fiscal Responsibility." This directive calls for the elimination of independent agencies that are deemed “non-essential,” beginning with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The order instructs federal departments to “eliminate to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” the IMLS, shifting any remaining responsibilities to other agencies deemed more “efficient.”

This executive action is not just a bureaucratic change—it’s a direct assault on libraries, museums, and the cultural memory of our nation.

What Happened Next

March 20: Keith E. Sonderling was appointed as Acting Director of IMLS, a move that caused concern throughout the field.
March 31: 85% of IMLS staff were placed on administrative leave, gutting the agency’s ability to operate.
April 4: A coalition of states—including New York—filed a federal lawsuit to block the executive order, arguing that the elimination of IMLS exceeds presidential authority and violates statutory protections for independent agencies.

Why IMLS Matters

Since 1996, IMLS has served as the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums, with a mission to:

“Advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.”

IMLS enables public access to education, information, and history—especially in underserved and rural communities. Its elimination would devastate local institutions and communities nationwide.

Actions You Can Take Right Now

Please take 5 minutes to act today. Use the links below to email or call your elected officials and share your support for IMLS.

These portals also provide phone numbers if you'd like to call directly. Let your representatives know this matters to you.

What’s at Stake in New York

The New York State Library receives $8.1 million annually through IMLS’s Grants to States Program, which supports:

7,000 libraries
72 library systems
55 of the 84 positions at the NYS Library

Losing this funding would dismantle services and deeply harm libraries and communities across the state.

Critical Services at Risk

Local and Statewide Library Support

Distribution of $104.6 million in State Aid
Administration of $45 million in Public Library Construction Aid
Technical support to 762 public libraries
Librarian certification and trustee education
Management of discretionary and legislative grants

NYS Library’s Core Responsibilities

Largest state library in the U.S., founded in 1818
Care for 20 million historical items, including George Washington’s Farewell Address and Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Digitization, reference, and research services

Community Programs Funded by IMLS

Ready to Read at New York Libraries – early literacy development
Summer Reading Program – free learning for children, fully federally funded
Social Work in Libraries – meeting community health and support needs
DHPSNY – preserving historical documents and archives
Continuing Education – training for library staff and trustees

Without IMLS, there is no federal infrastructure to support these services.
Without the State Library’s leadership and funding, local libraries will be left to fend for themselves.
Libraries are more than buildings—they are essential, equitable, educational, and democratic spaces that serve everyone. A federal lawsuit is underway. Now it’s our turn. Raise your voice. Save IMLS.

Advocacy Alerts!

NYLA's Online Advocacy Center

The Voice of the Library Community

Here is the link for the final budget "Take Action" campaign being spearheaded by NYLA. Feel free to submit the email immediately and distribute it within your networks: https://cqrcengage.com/alany/app/write-a-letter?18&engagementId=514094

Note: There is an editable section/prompt within the message body. If you do not want to include personal details, be sure to delete it before sending.

National Celebration Weeks and Promotional Events

ALA's offices and divisions sponsor a variety of library promotions throughout the year that libraries of all types all across the country can get involved with to promote libraries and create awareness of library issues. Check out the links below to see how you can bring these promotions to your library. The oldest of these events is National Library Week.

Freedom of Information Day
March: Freedom of Information (FOI) Day is an annual event on or near March 16, the birthday of James Madison, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government. Each year, the James Madison Award and the Eileen Cooke State & Local Madison Award are presented by the American Library Association Washington (DC) Office on Freedom of Information Day to recognize those individuals or groups that have championed, protected, and promoted public access to government information and the public's right to know.
School Library Month
April: School Library Month (SLM) is the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) celebration of school librarians and their programs. Every April school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student's educational career. Shares the theme of National Library Week.
National Library Week
April: First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by ilovelibraries, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA,) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries -- school, public, academic and special -- participate.
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Future Dates: Future Dates: April 6-12, 2025
Preservation Week
April: Preservation Week, held in the last week of April, was first observed by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) in 2010, offers an opportunity to celebrate collecting and preservation in your community, and to highlight your institution as a source of preservation information.
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Future Preservation Week Dates:
April 27--May 3, 2025
Choose Privacy Week
May: Started in 2010, by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, this initiative invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the tools they need to educate and engage users, and gives citizens the resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy. Typically celebrated the first full week of May.
National Library Legislative Week
May: Library Legislative Day is held each spring in Washington, D.C. Virtual Library Legislative Day activities will be held throughout the same week in the spring, and will be an opportunity for all library advocates to make their voices heard on a national level. Library advocates who cannot make it to Capitol Hill for the event can be a part of the effort.
Banned Books Week
September: Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read since 1982, is observed the last week of September. Each year, librarians, booksellers, teachers and countless others take this opportunity to highlight the importance of intellectual freedom and remind us not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.
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Future dates:
October 5-11, 2025
Library Card Sign-Up Month
September: September is Library Card Sign-Up Month - a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that the most important school supply of all is @ your library® - it's your library card. September was first so designated in 1988, as a continuation of a national campaign launched the previous year.
Digital Inclusion Week
October: This is an annual celebration dedicated to raising awareness about digital equity and the vital importance of inclusion in our increasingly digital world. This week-long event showcases the collective efforts to bridge the digital divide and highlights the impactful work being done to ensure everyone has access to technology and the internet.
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Future Dates: October 6-10, 2025
National Friends of Libraries Week
October: National Friends of Libraries Week offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate Friends – promoting the group in the community, raising awareness and increasing membership and also giving libraries and boards of trustees the opportunity to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library.
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Future Dates: October 19-25, 2025
International Games Month
November: ALA's National Gaming Day, first celebrated in 2008, focuses on the social and recreational side of gaming. Gaming at the library encourages patrons of all ages to interact with diverse peers, share their expertise and develop new strategies for gaming and learning. At the library, kids can socialize with their friends and play board and video games while surrounded by books, librarians and a real world of knowledge. In 2017, the celebration was changed from a day to an entire week, and then from a week to an entire month in 2022.

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