The U.S. Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Act of 2018 will expire on September 30, 2025.  This independent federal agency supports libraries, archives, and museums in all 50 states and territories.  It must be reauthorized to ensure vital library programs and services and access to collections continue in Ohio. 

The President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request includes only $6 million for the year to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The current IMLS annual allotment is $313 million. The proposal would effectively shut down IMLS at the start of 2026. 

Some of the services funded through the IMLS that directly impacts Sandusky Library users are the Talking Book Program that serves over 9000 blind and print disabled veterans in Ohio, Ohio Web Library (OWL) and its collection of databases, Library Services and Technology Act grants that have supported our Summer Reading Programs, Ohio Ready to Read which trains and guides our Youth Services staff to conduct story times that support early literacy, Day by Day Ohio that provides activities to support early literacy skills in the form of a daily calendar, and the Ohio Digital Network that makes our history collection accessible through the Ohio Memory Project. 

For 180 Ohio libraries outside of the CLEVNET consortium or other library consortium, the IMLS provides their digital Libby collection.  Academic and public school libraries stand to lose their access to digital library databases via INFOhio and OhioLINK, which in recent years have completely replaced physical collection materials. 

Send a strong signal of support to the Appropriations Committees by contacting our U.S. State Senators Bernie Moreno and John Husted and U.S. House member Marcy Kaptur to stress the importance of libraries. Ask them to REAUTHORIZE THE U.S. MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT OF 2018 to retain vital library programs and services, and access to collections.