'I regret to bring more bad news on the federal library-related legislative front, this time concerning the House of Representatives Budget Committee’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2015.  Committee Chair Paul Ryan (Republican – Wisconsin) proposes the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of his plan for cutting $5 trillion in federal expenditures over the next decade.  Other controversial measures proposed by Rep. Ryan and his committee include steep cuts to Medicare and to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (i.e., food stamps).  As the Selah Jubilees gospel group sang on their 1946 record of the same title, “Lord, help the poor and needy in this world.”

Regarding the IMLS, this proposed program elimination would affect 123,000 or more libraries in the United States.  As many of you likely know, IMLS grants are often matched by state funding and thus provide critically needed support for library services.   Considering the fact that public libraries and the services they offer are more needed than ever, the proposed elimination of IMLS grants is very unwelcome indeed.  Considering the continued underfunding of public libraries and libraries in general, the proposed elimination of IMLS grants could hardly be more inopportune.  Considering the fact that citizens must increasingly use electronic means to fulfill basic responsibilities of citizenship such as paying taxes and fees, communicating with government agencies (federal, state, and local), finding jobs and applying for jobs, the elimination of IMLS grants will seriously hamper public libraries as they attempt to assist members of the public function as responsible citizens in this evermore technological world. Government agencies along with many other societal institutions and businesses are increasingly unreachable by mail, phone, or in person.   There are tens of millions of Americans without a computer at home and computer literacy is by no means universal.   IMLS grants provided via the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) help public libraries meet the needs of these citizens.  The prospect of possibly eliminating this support is worrisome.'

Tim Dodge