The California State Library said its federal funding has been terminated.
State library officials said they were notified by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services that effective Tuesday, 2024-25 federal grant money from the Library Services and Technology Act approved by Congress has been shut down.
While local libraries usually get most of their funding from other sources, the LSTA provides annual money through IMLS for states to distribute to local libraries.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 14, effectively gutting the IMLS.
The order said “non-statutory components and functions … shall be eliminated” and “entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”
On Monday, the Trump administration put the entire institute — about 70 employees — on administrative leave.
In the current fiscal year, the IMLS allocated $15,705,702 to the state library to assist local libraries in funding programs and services. More than 21 percent of that money hasn’t been sent to California yet.
“We are deeply disappointed by this ill-informed decision, which immediately affects critical programs supported by these funds,” Rebecca Wendt, California deputy state librarian, said in a statement. “The California State Library remains committed to serving all of the people of California and will explore alternative means to ensure continued access to essential library services.”
IMLS typically provides more than $200 million annually for local libraries in all 50 states.
California state librarian Greg Lucas said in a memo sent to local librarians around the state the day after Trump’s order that Congress, when reauthorizing IMLS’ funding ability in the 2018 Museum and Library Services Act (signed into law by Trump during his first term), said the institute is statutorily required to send federal funding to state libraries.
The state library said those funds support early learning and literacy programs such as storytimes and play spaces for low-income families, summer reading initiatives engaging over a million children and teens, and programs helping at-risk youth develop workforce-readiness skills.
LSTA money has enabled state library staff to assist with expanding the student success card program, ensuring all California students get a public library card by third grade.
The state library said Thursday that LSTA funding strengthens communities by supporting diverse programs that align with California’s cultural, educational, and environmental priorities. Local libraries used the funding to create climate education programs, community gardens, tool libraries, and telehealth privacy pods for people without home internet access.
“We are deeply disappointed by this ill-informed decision, which immediately affects critical programs supported by these funds.”
Rebecca Wendt, California deputy state librarian
Libraries also provide services for veterans, formerly incarcerated people, tribal and rural communities, and programs to ensure California’s history and cultural treasures are preserved and accessible to the public.
LSTA funding also expands people’s access to learning resources, supports the state’s only shared eBook collection, and offers free access to major news publications and databases serving state employees, lawmakers, and the general public.
“From fostering literacy and lifelong learning to preserving history and expanding digital access, LSTA funding plays an essential role in ensuring that California’s libraries remain innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities they serve,” the state library said.
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