Institute for Museum & Library Services Funding News

On March 14, 2025 Presidential Action was taken to "eliminate to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law..." the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) and several other federal agencies. On March 20, 2025 Keith E. Sonderling was appointed the new acting director of the IMLS.

There have been several national, state, and local news stories on this issue and many patrons have asked how this action will impact Peter White Public Library services. According to the State Librarian Randy Riley, MeL databases and MeLCat are funded through September 30, 2025. What comes after that is truly up in the air.

What we can tell you is how IMLS funds are used to support library services in Michigan and what could be impacted if that funding was to be cut.

IMLS dollars do not directly fund library operations in the USA. Instead, funds are distributed to the states though the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), using a formula with a base amount per state plus a per capita amount. Each state is required to create a plan for how these funds will be allocated, and to match the funds being distributed.

For funding year 2023-2024 Michigan’s allocation was $4.8M. The majority (75%) of these funds are used to provide statewide services that benefit school, public, and academic libraries as well as providing direct services to Michigan residents.

• Here is a fact sheet for funded programs in Michigan (FY 2023).
• Here is a link to the Library of Michigan LSTA Five-Year Plan.

Do PWPL cardholders benefit from IMLS dollars?

Yes. PWPL cardholders benefit in a variety of ways:

• Michigan eLibrary (MeL) eContent: Statewide access to subscription magazines, newspapers, reference books, eBooks, and more on a wide range of topics for all age groups at MeL.org. In 2024, Michigan residents accessed 19.2 million trusted articles and journals through MeL.
• MeLCat Catalog: Statewide access to physical books and other items from 435 public, academic, and school libraries around the state at MeL.org. One million items were loaned throughout Michigan through MeLCat in 2024. In fy 2023-2024 PWPL cardholders borrowed 2284 items through MelCat and and additional 8345 items through Resource Sharing Libraries which utilize the same statewide delivery system as MelCat materials. PWPL also loaned 9526 items to other library cardholders throughout the state of Michigan.

(More about MeLCat here: Detroit Bookfest feature on MeLCat and interlibrary loans)

• Training benefits - On the staff side, PWPL benefits from IMLS too. The funding makes it possible for staff members to access on-demand training, webinars, and other classes. The on-demand training helps us train new employees and keep staff current on new topics without incurring cost for travel or planning for staff members to be out of the library for training. IMLS monies pay for professional education stipends that PWPL staff has used to attend Michigan and national conferences. 
• IMLS monies also pay for the entirety of the State of Michigan public libraries to participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program (which is where we get our summer reading curriculum).

Unless funding is restored or alternate funding found, the Library of Michigan will no longer be able to provide the MeL databases and MelCat services. PWPL cardholders will only have access to the digital and physical collections funded directly by PWPL.

At the March 18, 2025 meeting of the Library Board of Trustees, the PWPL Board passed a resolution in support of continued funding for IMLS. View the resolution.

If you would like to make your position on this issue known here are the links to look up your elected representatives and their contact information:

• Michigan House of Representatives
• Michigan Senate
• Michigan's Congressional Representation

We will continue to update you as we have more information.

If you have any questions, we are here to help!

Andrea Ingmire

Library Director