ALA welcomes reinstatement of all federal IMLS grants to libraries

[cbabe]

https://www.ala.org/news/2025/12/ala-welcomes-reinstatement-all-federal-imls-grants-libraries

ALA welcomes reinstatement of all federal IMLS grants to libraries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | DECEMBER 3, 2025

Washington – Today, the American Library Association (ALA) greeted an announcement by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that it had reinstated all the agency’s grants, including those to libraries and library organizations across the country. The grant reinstatements come as a direct result of a November 21 federal court decision in a lawsuit brought against President Trump by 21 states.

ALA President Sam Helmick said, “ALA welcomes the good news that IMLS is restoring all federal grants that had previously been terminated. This means that libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination, and economic opportunity.

“Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states. Every public, school and academic library and their patrons benefit from the research findings and program outcomes from individual library and organization grantees.

“We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not finished. The administration can appeal court decisions. Congress can choose to not fund IMLS in future years. ALA calls on everyone who values libraries to remind their Congressmembers and elected officials at every level why America’s libraries deserve more, not fewer resources."

… more …

[murielm99]

1. Yay!

[Attilatheblond]

2. Education resources are a huge bulwark against fascism, so this is very important

My idea for taking this good news and running with it: a new protest theme: LET MY PEOPLE LEARN!

We will be well served by shining some light on the public resources available for people to expand their knowledge and seeing how things are connected. It will help fight the pogroms of the MFs currently destroying our beloved country.

Write LTTE to you local paper. Go to library and school board meetings to see what is going on and how YOU can help move things in a good direction. See what board members might be impairing services and organize to vote them out. Find and elect good people to local boards.

Support your local teachers and libraries. Yes, walk into your library, visitor counts matter for grants, public & private. If you haven't been in there for a while, prepare to be impressed at the variety of services available. Something I read once really stuck with me: Your local library is actually your community's living room. Go see and feel the comfort, sanctuary, and possibilities for making solid connections with others in your community.

Check with you local schools and libraries to see if they have a Wish List on Amazon (yeah, I know, but it is a thing for many public services that don't get the funding they need, so just take a look and do what you can). Let your local, state, and federal level office holders know you care about your library and that you are paying close attention to what they are doing to help or harm those institutions.

Look into the many programs and services your local library offers. If you have time, consider volunteering, see if the staff is open to new ideas for programs, most of them welcome public input and even your participation making innovations and programs available help their traffic, and grant opportunities. Our local offers free movie matinees a couple times a month, a favorite for many retirees who live alone and look forward to an event that gets them out of the house and among the living, LOL. We also have 'chair exercise' group and gentle yoga, so the elders have lots of opportunities to get out and help themselves. Local musicians sometimes offer free mini-concerts.

Our library lends bikes and 'Adventure Packs' on specific topics for families to learn and explore places of interests in our community. I have seen 'bug packs' with books and bug magnifying tools to study the crawllers, bird watching guides and basic equipment, geology adventure packs, local history and culture packs. They really are a boon for young families who may be on tight budgets who want ideas and tools for enriching adventures for their families.

I love going to the library on 'story hour' days, arriving about the time story time is over so I can see young mothers and kids, talking excitedly about the day's stories, and holding the books they just checked out! Nothing beats the look on a little person's face when they get their very first library card. I guarantee you will get a huge endorphin boost just watching.

We have a lego building club, chess club, art club, and many other events for school kids to teens. A couple times a year, our library staff hosts after hours events for teens and they are always innovative.

Go to your community's 'living room'. See what's shakin' and be amazed. Let the local office holders know you support library and school services. Let them know often!

Enjoy what your local offers. Elect congressional reps who will support library and school services. Be in investor in the future by supporting available learning opportunities, and remember to tip your tri-corn to Dr. Franklin's foresight for getting the whole thing going here