What is the IMLS and why should we care?
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An Update from Michael Haley Goldman, Executive Director
On March 14, the White House announced that the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) would be one of seven "governmental entities [that] shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." I’ve discovered that surprisingly few people know about the work of IMLS and, as libraries and museums are vital partners for the humanities in our state, I want to make sure the implications of the IMLS elimination are clear to the humanities community.
Like the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), IMLS provides federal funds to support the network of important cultural institutions in each state. As the name suggests, IMLS directly supports the infrastructure for libraries across the country through the Library Services and Technology Act and is the largest federal source of library and museum funding.
Since 2015, IMLS has granted over $15 million to libraries and museums in New Hampshire. Of that, more than $13 million has gone directly to the NH State Library which uses the funds to support infrastructure for all libraries in New Hampshire. With over $1.5 million awarded to New Hampshire annually, the State Library develops critical programs like the Interlibrary Loan System, supports digital access infrastructure including e-books, and operates the Talking Book program for New Hampshire residents physically unable to see or handle traditional books.
In addition to their many other vital community services, New Hampshire's libraries provide important access to the humanities for towns across the state. Last year, New Hampshire Humanities worked with 110 individual libraries through programs like Humanities to Go and Perspectives book groups. Libraries are frequent recipients of NHH Community Project Grants, bringing unique humanities programs to their constituents.
While it is not yet clear how the elimination of the IMLS will be carried out, the library staff that I've heard from are quite concerned about the implications for their work. Want to learn more? Consider reaching out to your local librarian to hear about specific community concerns and suggestions.
Don’t know your local library? You can start with this list from Librarytechnology.org. You can also check out local groups like the New Hampshire Library Association for their perspective.
As members of the humanities community, consider how state and national decisions directly impact your community. New Hampshire Humanities will continue to share information about the state of the New Hampshire's cultural sector. Questions? Please email me at mhaleygoldman@nhhumanities.org.
