NAHANT — Director of the Public Library Nori Morganstein has been going all-out to spread the word to the community about the ongoing federal cutbacks to libraries throughout the country.
Back in March, Morganstein announced via the monthly library newsletter that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which would see libraries throughout the country lose access to federal resources, such as books and databases that patrons use frequently.
She explained in an online statement to the community how the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLA) has been working to “preserve as many federally-funded services as possible.”
Morganstein included a statement from MBLA Director Maureen Amyot in the newsletter: “The President has determined that the Institute of Museum and Library Services is ‘unnecessary.’ But we know the opposite to be true. We know that welcoming ALL, including diverse voices in our collections, and providing free and equitable access to library services make public libraries the cornerstone of a free democratic society.”
Starting on July 1, statewide research database offerings will be reduced significantly. However, the MBLC and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS), which jointly fund databases, will maintain several of the most heavily used databases, like PebbleGo and Britannica Library. Despite an increase of 12% in database usage (60% of usage coming from MA schools) and 9 million full-text downloads from research databases, all of the databases listed below will be cut.
The databases include: Boston Globe Article Archive, Britannica Moderna, Gale Academic OneFile Select, Gale General OneFile, Gale Health and Wellness, Gale in Context: Biography, Gale in Context: Elementary, Gale in Context: Environmental Studies, Gale in Context: Global Issues, HeritageQuest Online, along with others.
Morganstein added that the MBLC expects further reductions to be announced “within the coming weeks.”
The American Library Association (ALA) released a statement, elaborating on how the IMLS cuts have put libraries across the country at risk.
“In response to an Executive Order issued on March 14 to reduce the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Department of Government Efficiency has begun cutting existing grants, including funding to states in California, Connecticut, and Washington,” the statement said. “These cuts are disruptive, especially to services provided in rural communities. Further, experts working for IMLS have received notices that their positions are being eliminated; this further erodes effective support for America’s essential public libraries.”
The ALA urged the administration and Congress to rescind this recent round of cancellations of grants to state library agencies, libraries, and museums.
“IMLS must continue to honor appropriated and statutory programs and grants as Congress intended. All members of Congress must listen to their constituents and speak up for the value of public libraries and the essential services they provide in every state,” the statement said.
