Legislation & Funding
IMLS
On March 14th, the President issued an Executive Order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), along with six other federal agencies. IMLS is the primary federal agency responsible for providing funding to libraries and museums in the nation. The agency's congressionally approved budget of approximately $298 million is predominantly allocated to library services through the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), which represents about 0.003% of the current federal budget.
IMLS programs serve more than 1.2 billion people nationwide each year. According to a Gallup poll, local library visits exceed attendance at NFL, NHL, NBA games, NASCAR events, concerts, and movie theaters COMBINED. (Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/284009/library-visits-outpaced-trips-movies-2019.aspx.)
Public libraries in the United States are primarily funded at the local level. Earlham Public Library, as an independent agency of the City of Earlham, is funded through the City’s General Fund, and Library employees are City employees. Prior to 2023, additional funding was provided through the Earlham voter-approved 2007 Special Library Levy, which was eliminated by HF718 (property tax reform act).
Federal LSTA funding supports services provided by the State Library of Iowa, benefitting Iowa libraries and residents. For Earlham Public Library, these services include:
- IA Shares Delivery Service: A twice-weekly delivery system supporting the sharing of materials among Iowa libraries. Last year, Earlham patrons borrowed 650 items from other libraries, and Earlham Public Library provided 238 items to other Iowa libraries.
- Brainfuse: Digital resources supported by IMLS funding offering homework assistance, tutoring, career services, veteran support, and more.
- Accreditation and Standards: Earlham Public Library has maintained continuous accreditation, ensuring high-quality library services for our community.
- Endorsement Program: Provides professional development, recognition, and foundational knowledge for librarians and library directors. Our director holds a gold-level endorsement.
- State of Iowa Libraries Online (SILO): An interlibrary loan platform facilitating resource sharing. Last year, Earlham residents extensively used SILO in order to check out items that were unavailable at our own library, but were held somewhere else in the state.
- Continuing Education: Ongoing professional training for library directors, librarians and library workers, and library trustees. Library employees attend training sessions throughout the year, and the director uses these classes to remain certified.
- Summer Reading Program: Earlham participates in the statewide Summer Reading Program, with 586 reading logs turned in by 130 children and families last year.
The potential loss of these federal funds would significantly impact small and rural libraries. Smaller libraries often lack the budgets to fund these services independently. In addition to summer reading programs, IMLS funding supports initiatives such as All Iowa Reads, website and technology assistance, STEM to Go and Storytime Kits, digital databases, and the People's Law Library of Iowa.
Funding for IMLS depends on two key factors:
- The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, which sunsets on September 30, 2025, and requires reauthorization by Congress; and
- Federal appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026).
Without adequate funding, IMLS will be unable to fulfill its mission effectively.
You can find more information at www.saveimls.org.
SPECIAL LIBRARY LEVY
Legislation passed in 2023, HF718, eliminated the Special Library Levy.
This levy was a local voter-approved property tax that allowed residents to tax themsleves $0.27 per $1,000 assessed value to provide for enhanced library service in their community.
This Issue Brief highlights the challenges faced by institutions and communities that previously relied on these levies. Numerous libraries and museums that depend on this funding are experiencing significant difficulties, particularly in rural areas, should the levies not be restored. A call to action has been issued by those in the library and museum community, as the legislature is currently deliberating additional property tax bills, HSB313/SSB1208 & SSB1227, and advocates believe this represents the best chance for the restoration of the levies.
You may wish to contact your legislators and share this information with anyone who supports libraries and museums in Iowa.
Advocate for Earlham Public Library
Earlham Public Library is proud to be supported by our vibrant and diverse community! The resources on this page are intended to make it easy for you to share information about the value of the library with your friends and family and to advocate with your elected officials and other community stakeholders.
Advocacy is critical for public libraries! By telling others about the library, you are:
- Showing how the library positively impacts Earlham by connecting our community to resources that educate, enrich, and entertain.
- Spreading awareness of free services that many in our community may not otherwise know about or have access to.
- Advocating for funding to meet our community’s needs through the library’s resources.
Here are some messages you can share in your networks to show the value of the library!
- “Earlham Public Library connects a diverse community to resources that educate, enrich, and entertain.”
- "Earlham Public Library aspires to create a community-wide culture of learning where everyone is empowered."
- “Through its curation of library materials, engaging public programming, and high-quality services, The Library seeks to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community.”
- “Earlham Public Library invests in our community’s future by offering thousands of books and other items for checkout and hundreds of educational and entertaining programs free of charge to everyone in the community.”
Additional Resources
The Library's Annual Reports and Strategic Plans
Share your Library Story!
Talking about how The Library positively impacted your life is an important part of advocacy! If you have a story that we can share with elected officials and other stakeholders, please share below.
*By submitting this form, you give Earlham Public Library permission to publish your story. When we share stories, we typically display only your first name and last initial. Not all submissions are published.
How did Earlham Public Library make a difference in your life?
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FRIENDS of The Library
Did you know? The FRIENDS of the Earlham Public Library provide supplemental funding for the Library's programs! The FRIENDS raise funds to support the library and