Escanaba Library Director Concerned About Possible Federal Funding Cuts

The Escanaba Public Library Director is concerned about the effects an executive order from President Trump will have on libraries.

The order directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to:

Eliminate non-statutory programs
Reduce its functions and personnel to the minimum required by law
Directs the Office of Management and Budget to reject funding requests from IMLS “except insofar as necessary to effectuate an expected termination.”

Carolyn Stacey is concerned that this will have a negative impact on libraries across the country. Michigan receives federal funding from IMLS and uses those dollars to provide statewide services that benefit school, public, and academic libraries, as well as providing direct services to Michigan residents through the Michigan eLibrary (MeL and MeLCat).

These programs provide interlibrary loan and resource-sharing services, allowing libraries across Michigan to lend and share materials, and supply a library of subscription e-resources available to residents with no fee.

Escanaba Public Library cardholders benefit directly from the IMLS in these ways: 

          Statewide interlibrary loan via MeLcat

•  Access to physical books and other items from 435 public, academic, and school libraries around the state.
• In 2023-2024, Escanaba cardholders borrowed 3,082 items through MelCat and regional Resource Sharing Libraries.
• Statewide, one million items were loaned via MeLCat in 2024.

          Free electronic resources via MeL.org

•  Access to subscription journals, newspapers, reference books, eBooks, and more on a wide range of topics for all ages.
• In 2024, Michigan residents accessed 19.2 million trusted articles and journals through MeL.

• The Library of Michigan uses IMLS funds to provide on-demand training, webinars, and other classes that help library staff train new employees and stay current on new services without incurring travel costs.
• IMLS funds children’s summer reading program materials for all Michigan public libraries.

In a nutshell, the loss of IMLS funds means that Escanaba Public Library cardholders won’t be able to place holds on items not available locally and will cut off access to authoritative online learning and self-help resources, like the Learning Express Library, Auto Repair Source, Job and Career Accelerator, Legal Information Source and more.

Stacey says that local cardholders will only have access to the digital and physical collections funded directly by the Escanaba Public Library.