Trails Regional Library Statement regarding Institute of Museum and Library Services inclusion in a new executive order issued Friday March 14, 2025.
For Immediate Release:
March 21, 2025
Statement
(Warrensburg, MO) In a new executive order issued last Friday night, Mar 14, 2025 President Trump has included the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the federal agency tasked with distributing congressionally appropriated funds to state libraries, which are in turn used to fund statewide initiatives and subgrants to libraries. In Missouri, $3,338,467 in federal funds were provided to the Missouri State Library to fund, among other things, a statewide courier system that allows libraries to share items amongst each other to maximize what is available to all Missouri library users. Also provided is funding for an integrated library system consortium (Missouri Evergreen) which allows 80+ libraries to share a card catalog system that further strengthens this idea of resource sharing amongst libraries. These federal funds also support the Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library, as well as the Missouri Digital Heritage project, which is aimed at digitally preserving Missouri’s history and historical documents.
For Trails Regional Library (TRL), federal funds are used to provide our Excel Adult High School Program, staff training opportunities, including Homeless Training Institute, and the statewide courier. TRL has also used federal funds to apply for grants to replace outdated computers, to provide Summer Reading Program supplies & presenters, to establish a hotspot lending program, and to enhance our collection with new materials such as STEAM kits. Federal funds distributed through IMLS have assisted TRL in providing quality services to our patrons. While an elimination of this agency would impact TRL, the financial strain it would cause for Missouri’s rural and smaller libraries would be devastating.
The Executive Order states that IMLS must be reduced to its “statutory functions” and that all non-statutory components and functions…shall be eliminated to the maximum extent.” As of now, the Grants to States allocations that directly impact state libraries is a statutory function, but it is unclear if there is a move to modify that; thus, the outcry from libraries and their supporters that is taking place nationwide after the release of this news.
TRL is committed to provide the best, community focused related programs and services to the communities we serve, but we are also committed to speaking up and supporting the entire library community, especially in Missouri.
Trails Regional Library is comprised of eight branches and one express branch and serves the counties of Johnson and Lafayette. For branch locations or more information, visit the library’s website at trailslibrary.org.