Library Services Threatened by Cuts
- April 18th 2025
- Libraries
Springvale Library Director Lesley Unger and their interlibrary loan shipment
Photo: Springvale Library
By Lawrence Furbish
Thanks to federal cuts, readers who use library services like interlibrary loans, high-speed internet, Cloud Library e-books and books for the blind and visually impaired might soon notice unpleasant changes at our local libraries.
In March, President Trump signed an executive order declaring the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which funnels federal funds to the states and their public libraries, “unnecessary.” Subsequently, the entire 70-person agency staff were placed on 90-day leave. Apparently, 12 are now back at work, but it is unclear if the others will return.
The IMLS administers federal grant funding through the Library Services and Technology Act to state libraries across the U.S. For the Maine State Library, this funding totals approximately $1.5 million each year and represents 30% of their annual budget. At present, nearly all discretionary grants to IMLS have been eliminated. On April 9, Maine State Library announced it was laying off 13 of its current 44-person staff and closing for two weeks to reorganize.
Springvale Public Library Director Lesley Unger is gathering quotes for high-speed internet services to ensure they have a contingency plan in place if funding is revoked. It appears continuing that service will cost the library $650 per month. She has also reached out to the state librarian to understand the potential timeline for losing interlibrary loan van delivery services, should this scenario occur.
Julie Nordstrom, general manager of Goodall Memorial Library, says that the biggest impact would be the loss of interlibrary loan services. An average of 300 Goodall patrons per month use this system to obtain books, and twice that number of the library’s books are shipped out each month to other users around the state.
At this time, there is some uncertainty as to whether these cuts will continue. Two lawsuits have been filed against the elimination of these funds – one by the American Library Association and another by 21 states, including Maine, representing libraries across the country.
According to Sen. Susan Collins, over $6 million in federal funding was directed to Maine libraries in 2024. Senators Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden have signed a bipartisan letter to the director of the IMLS seeking assurances that the appropriated funds for libraries will not be disrupted.
