Librarians are breathing a sigh of relief as the Trump administration is quietly restoring $160 million in funding for libraries across the U.S, including $15 million for the Golden State.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March to gut the Institute of Museum and Library Services, calling it unnecessary. But now a federal judge has declared that order unlawful.
Anthony Chow is president of the California Library Association and a professor and director of the School of Information at San Jose State University.
“I have heard a lot of excitement but also skepticism, because a lot of people have been laid off,” said Chow. “A lot of projects have been dismantled. And so while we’re excited that the funds are returned, there is a little bit of skepticism in terms of whether it might be taken away again.”
While the funding already approved by Congress must be disbursed, any future funding is up in the air.
During his first term, Trump zeroed out funds for the Institute of Museum and Library Services every year, only to have them restored by Congress in the final budget. Funding from the institute supports e-book collections, community impact grants, literacy programs, and workforce development.
Meanwhile, California’s 1,200 libraries are taking another $70 million hit after the Trump administration terminated the Digital Equity Grant program. Chow said the program, created during the Biden administration, was designed to make sure no one is left behind in the modern era.
“The act was designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, language, age, or geography, could fully participate in the digital world,” said Chow. “Libraries were prepared to deliver much of this work through digital skills training, device lending, telehealth support, and essential online access.”
The California Library Association is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to include $12.7 million in state funds for libraries in his January state budget proposal.
Written by Suzanne Potter.
Support for this reporting was provided by the philanthropic foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York.
