Indianapolis, Indiana – Libraries across Indiana are facing an uncertain future following an executive order signed earlier this month by President Donald Trump. The order aims to scale back the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that has been a critical source of funding for libraries and museums across the country since its establishment in 1996. With this move, libraries statewide could experience service disruptions, longer wait times for materials, and a decline in available resources for patrons.
The IMLS, which had a budget of $295 million in 2024, represents a small fraction of federal spending, yet its impact on libraries is significant. The agency provides essential funding for programs such as research databases, historical archives, child literacy initiatives, and materials for visually impaired individuals. Additionally, the Indiana State Library depends on IMLS funds to support its Digital Library, which gives patrons access to a vast collection of e-books and audiobooks across more than 200 public libraries.
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Grier Carson, director of Monroe County Public Library (MCPL), expressed concerns over the uncertainty these cuts bring. “The topic of conversation among public libraries right now is, what’s the impact going to be? Who’s going to feel it first? How much reduction are we going to see in access as a result of the lack of funding? And we really don’t know yet,” Carson said.
One immediate concern is the impact on the Indiana Digital Library, which provides thousands of residents with access to e-books and e-audiobooks through the Libby app. Lisa Champelli, MCPL’s collection development manager, warned that reduced funding could result in longer wait times for digital titles. “Anytime we’re having to make those kinds of budget choices, it means, what are we not going to purchase in order to invest in something else?” she explained.
Beyond digital resources, interlibrary loan services may also take a hit. MCPL patrons currently benefit from the InfoExpress program, which allows for the transfer of books between regional libraries through bi-weekly drop-offs. Carson emphasized how significant these cuts could be: “If that were to be reduced significantly, then we would no longer be the interlibrary loan library that we’re proud of being.”
The broader concern is that local libraries will be forced to absorb the costs of these services, leading to difficult decisions about which programs to maintain and which to cut. Without federal funding, libraries might have to redirect resources from existing community programs, potentially affecting literacy efforts, public internet access, and other essential services.
In response to the executive order, MCPL published an open letter on March 20, urging library patrons to voice their opposition by calling their representatives or signing a petition to support continued funding for the IMLS. Champelli underscored the importance of these efforts: “Isn’t that what we want our government agencies to be doing? Isn’t that how public funding works, is to help improve our shared communities? If we lose that, it’s a loss to the community as a whole.”
As libraries across the state brace for the fallout, the full impact of these funding reductions remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that any significant cuts to the IMLS will be felt by communities that rely on their local libraries for education, access to information, and cultural enrichment.
