In April I wrote an article about President Trump’s Executive Order regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services. At that time, Trump had appointed Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of the IMLS and the majority of staff had been placed on administrative leave. Libraries across the country received half the funding appropriated by Congress on their behalf. This was a departure from the traditional full payment. It is not known at this time if payment of the other half will be made.
Since then, President Trump has release his FY26 budget with does not include any funding for the IMLS and would eliminate the only federal agency that provides funding and services to public libraries.
There are currently several lawsuits against these actions playing out in the courts. One of their arguments is that the Executive Order disregards the role of the federal government’s three branches. Congress makes laws and appropriates funds the president is meant to implement and spend. While some of those suits have resulted in temporary restraining orders others have not allowing some of the dismantling of the IMLS to continue before final rulings are given.
Libraries systems across Wisconsin have worked together to create the Speak Up for Libraries advocacy campaign. In additional to an informative website providing basic background on the issue, they have also distributed postcards for patrons to express their opinion to US Senators and Congressional Representatives who also have a say on the future of the IMLS.
We have postcards and address labels for Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson and Congressman Bryan Steil available for residents to express their opinion. In addition, there is a collection box for the postcards. Those boxes will be collected in Milwaukee and bulk mailed. Residents may also choose to mail them independently instead or voice their opinions via a phone call or email.
The Walworth County Health & Human Services has given us a second collection box for the summer. Every three years they conduct a Community Health Assessment. Those survey results are used to create their Community Health Improvement Plan and guide their work to improve quality of life in Walworth County.
Anyone wishing to complete the survey may return it to the collection box at most Walworth County libraries. We do have paper copies of the survey and a QR code for the electronic version. A link is also available on the Walworth County website by searching Community Health Assessment & Improvement.
0 Comments