Booksology The temporary restraining order was called for as a last effort to suspend further layoffs of naked Bone IMLS staff on May 4th. Of positive news amid a series of blows across libraries across the country. The judge sent further encouraged signals for the plaintiffs, suggesting that the administration is violating the Administrative Procedure Act.
The next day, we saw even worse news.
The President has announced the budget proposed for 2026 fiscal year. This will start on October 1st, 2025. The proposal includes the complete disappearance of IMLS budget. This is the only federal agency for libraries, and without a budget, not only will critical services at the state and local level be confused or completely eliminated, but library loan services, research databases, digital media access, and other funds granted to the state library can distribute that money to the national library.
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Beyond the unquestionable damages caused to public libraries and museums, this is a special pain in rural areas of the country, so where, how and how will the current representative director of IMLS Keith Sonderling be used to seek information from the state libraries? In an email that appeared at all state libraries in late April, Sonderling requested three pieces of information.
- Programs funded in the state by IMLS grants that refuted many anti-DEI enforcement orders issued by Executive Office
- The funds provided by IMLS state grants were “used to cultivate educated, informed American citizens.”
- State libraries were scheduled to participate in celebrating America’s 250th birthday next year. The work is closely linked to its focus on being an IMLS propaganda machine, as outlined in March, and closely linked to the agenda of the 250 Americans.
The agency is now reporting all this information since the budget to eliminate IML was published between Monday, May 5th and Monday, May 5th, when it was proposed. If the department is doing well to disappear completely, this level of information is not needed. Not only does this feel like an opportunity to further perpetuate lies and disinformation about the role and purpose of domestic libraries, but it also feels like a great opportunity to pick ideas for rebranding propaganda labs, not only is it something IMLS has already begun to run on its agency Instagram accounts.
Some letters notify individual state agencies that some of the IMLS funds have been restored by the administration as the letter arrived in the state library’s inbox. The funds have been terminated as some previously received letters that various grant projects no longer met the needs of the administration (in addition to the original notice that funds were suspended while IMLS was being demolished). Maine was able to reduce some of the state library layoffs announced as a result of losses in funding. Wisconsin has also announced that it will receive a portion of the grant. The Virginia Library shared a letter it received about the recovery of grants to digitize legislative petitions from the 18th and 19th centuries. This is a decision that came after the state libraries petitioned to restore these funds.
The language of reinstatement is certainly calm:
As mentioned above, state libraries across the country have begun receiving letters about cuts in federal funding, but three states have been notified that they have lost all their funds from their grant programs. Sources say at least two of these states, California and Washington, may have seen these cancelled grants recover. No further information has been shared at the time of writing.
There are several examples of where and how the library world responded to the latest ones related to IMLS cuts. They focus on educating the public about reducing important and beloved services as much as encouraging library advocates to actually appear. Public libraries and institutions that support them should provide more education and calls for action and advocacy like this.
Remember that the library is not neutral and not neutral. So-called neutrality is far from concerns about exercising a partisan axis in these institutions. Libraries are embarrassing and supportive in politics, and their survival depends on defending their future.
Are you a library lover, advocate, or activist? Much of what you have done to support local libraries is also working at the federal level.
- Write and/or call members of Congress and request that they remove cuts to IML in the 2026 budget. EveryLibrary makes this simple with pre-filled templates.
- Support libraries to write and/or call state-level representatives and encourage them to work to maintain or increase state funding for public libraries. If IML does not obtain budgets in 2026, and if the service remains at its current level, then there is something about that shortage.
- When your representative is in the community of City Hall and other events, ask directly whether you would like to support IML’s ongoing work and ask to ask them directly about what they are doing to save their agents.
- If your state’s attorney general is not taking part in a lawsuit against IMLS reductions, urge them to do so. Most state lawyer generals are elected. The volumes are Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee and Wyoming. It emphasizes that their responsibility is to their people.
- For those with financial means, donate to your local library or other public institution where funding is provided by IML. This money goes directly to those organizations. The library will benefit investment rates of $5 to $9 for each dollar it has, so even a small contribution will have an impact.
More and more institutions share what is at stake when it comes to the impact of IMLS funding cuts. The Juneau Public Library (AK) has ended its ability to share resources with rural Alaska communities and reduce the digital resources available to all Michigan residents, and California’s digital newspaper collections are bleak, despite the huge losses for Americans across the country.
The status of IML and funding in libraries across the country is a continuing story and will continue to be updated as more information emerges. For agencies whose budgets make up less than .004% of the federal budget, the administration has certainly poured a considerable amount of time, energy and taxpayer money into it to create discord and confusion.
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This week we’re highlighting a post that provides a guide to all books in the cozy genre! Know some outstanding cozy mysteries, cozy horror, and more. Read the excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.
A guide to all cozy genres
Cozy has certainly become a buzzword attached to genre fiction. It all began with a cozy mystery that has existed for decades. Now we see cozy science fiction and fantasy, and even cozy horror. So, what does “comfortable” mean?
There are some general features of what is called cozy book. In general, they evoke an attractive atmosphere in their settings. In a cozy mystery, this is often a small town, and considers a quaint village in the British countryside. Fantasy adds magic to its quaint village. Horror adds ghosts. In science fiction, the comfort often involves a close crew as a ship, space station or colony. Readers can expect rich descriptions of the setting and plenty of atmosphere for a fully transported reading experience.
Another common factor in these books is the interests of the story. Cozy mystery is somewhat confused as the crime they solve is usually murder! Nevertheless, readers are not exposed to the details of the gory or placed in extreme suspense positions. Similarly, cozy fantasy and sci-fi novels may address the aftermath of a massive conflict, but the characters may be smaller and more internal or interpersonal challenges.
Sign up and become an All Access member for $6 a month, then click here to read the unlocked article. Level up your reading life with all your access membership and explore the complete library of exclusive bonus content, including must-sees, deep diving, and reading challenge recommendations.
