The library services you count on are at risk.
On Friday, March 14, President Trump signed an executive order that targets federal funding to libraries and museums through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. IMLS’ entire program of service costs 87 cents per person. (US population July 2024)
Update: The library community across Massachusetts is applauding a major federal court ruling that permanently blocks Executive Order 14238, which sought to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s only federal agency dedicated to supporting libraries and museums.
On November 21, 2025, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell ruled in favor of 21 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts, determining that the order exceeded presidential authority and violated laws governing agencies established by Congress. The ruling ensures that IMLS can continue delivering critical support and funding for libraries nationwide and prohibits any further attempts to dismantle the agency.
In addition, the Rhode Island v. Trump First Circuit argument scheduled for December 4 in Boston will not be going forward. In light of the district court’s granting of summary judgment and a permanent injunction to the states (mentioned above), the federal government filed an assented-to motion to dismiss the appeal as moot, which the court granted on November 25, 2025.
FY2026 Funding
While the ruling protects IMLS from elimination, FY2026 funding levels are still being finalized. The agency is currently funded at FY2025 levels under a Continuing Resolution through January, and both the House and Senate have restored IMLS funding in their budget revisions. The proposed $291.8 million allocation includes a modest cut overall but a slight increase to the Grants to States program, which supports services here in Massachusetts.
Libraries are busy, effective and efficient.
Libraries are busy, effective and efficient.
At 28 million in-person visits to Massachusetts Public Libraries each year, we’re busier than Disney’s Magic Kingdom. For every dollar invested in public libraries they return an estimated five dollars in services. Libraries in Massachusetts work together to create a system of sharing that not only saves money but gives everyone access to more than 59 million physical items.
Federal funding impacts library services statewide.
Reliable online sources for research
The Statewide Database Program provides critical access to reliable online research that no community or school system could afford to purchase on its own. 60% of database usage comes from Massachusetts schools alone. Last year, there were over 9 million full text downloads of magazines, journal articles, scholarly papers and more.
The MBLC prioritized this service amidst federal funding uncertainty, however, beginning July 1, statewide research database offerings will be significantly reduced.
How this affects you: Access to trusted online content is especially important for educators, college students, K-12 students, homeschoolers, and anyone who needs to do research.🔗Several statewide databases have been eliminated for FY2026.
Getting items from other libraries
The Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat) is an online unified catalog search of 59 million Massachusetts library holdings where you can request an item from across the state and pick it up at your local library in a matter of days. The MBLC used $186,521 in federal funds to pay for ComCat last year. On average, 7,500 items are shared through ComCat each month. At an average cost of $15 per item, ComCat pays for itself in just 1 and ½ months.
The MBLC was able to maintain Commonwealth Catalog amidst federal funding uncertainty, but other services were cut. 🔗More information is available at the MBLC website.
How this affects you: Right now, you have access to millions of items from 500 participating libraries to get books, magazines, materials in languages other than the English, and more that your own library network doesn’t have. Your access to items shared by other libraries will be maintained for the next year.
Access to eBooks and Audiobooks
Federal funding pays for the platform (Libby) used to access all of the 685,000 titles available through the statewide Library eBook and Audiobook (LEA) program. The number of items borrowed through LEA has more than doubled since 2019, and in 2024 over 1.9 million eBooks and audiobooks were checked out, an increase of 19% in just one year.
The amount of funding available to purchase eBooks and Audiobooks has been reduced. 🔗More information is available at the MBLC website.
How this affects you: It may be more difficult to borrow titles through Libby. Wait times on Libby will likely increase, and the selection of available eBooks and audiobooks will likely decrease.
Please note: Publishers often charge libraries five to six times the consumer cost for the same eBook with more restrictive licenses. These policies have severely limited libraries’ ability to purchase electronic content to meet demand. For library users with dyslexia, disabilities, and mobility challenges, eBooks and audiobooks are a necessity. The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) is working with state legislators to ensure access. The following bills have been filed:
- HD.3595 An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by Representative Murray.
- SD.2330 An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by Senator Feeney.
The summer reading program with the Boston Bruins is partially federally funded.
Since the Boston Bruins partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) began in 2009, there have been 158 library visits to 110 municipalities to promote literacy and encourage kids and teens to keep reading over the summer. More than 157,000 children, teens and adults participated in statewide summer reading programs in partnership with the Boston Bruins last summer.
This year’s 2025 Summer Library Program “When You Read, You Score!” is made possible thanks to increased support from the Boston Bruins.
Local Grants for Libraries
The MBLC uses federal funds to provide grants that local libraries can use to address community needs ranging from early literacy, preserving local history collections, workforce development, and STEM/STEAM programming to name just a few.
Due to federal funding uncertainty, the Local Grants for Libraries program has been eliminated. 🔗More information about cuts to services and grants are available at the MBLC website.
Everyone can support libraries.
- Empowered by Libraries – You can tell the MBLC how your library has helped you and your story will be shared with Massachusetts legislators.
- Share your stories with Senator Ed Markey – Senator Markey is pushing back against the latest executive orders from the Trump Administration and would like to hear from YOU about how you are being affected.
- SaveIMLS.org – EveryLibrary’s petition to State Governors and Congress.
- Show Up For Our Libraries – The American Library Association’s campaign to harness the collective power of library advocates.
- You can contact your state legislators: FIND MY LEGISLATOR
- You can contact your federal legislators: FIND MY CONGRESS MEMBER