About the Presidential Executive Order on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

On March 14, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order that calls for the non-statutory components and functions of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to be eliminated.

A reduction or elimination of the IMLS may result in a direct loss for thousands of KDL patrons and an even greater loss for smaller libraries that rely on IMLS-funded services to a greater extent. 

Changes to IMLS have not been disclosed yet, other than the general objectives stated in the Executive Order. Congress approved funding for IMLS through September 2025 in a Continuing Resolution on March 15, 2025. What remains to be seen is clarification of non-statutory components and functions. We at Kent District Library are watching closely so we can keep you informed. 

What support does Kent District Library get from IMLS?

• While KDL does not receive direct funding from IMLS, the residents of the KDL service area benefit from IMLS support of the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) service.
• MeL (Michigan eLibrary) is a statewide resource hub offering digital databases, eBooks, research tools and learning resources to all Michigan residents, while MeLCat (Michigan eLibrary Catalog) is an interlibrary loan system that allows patrons to borrow physical materials from participating Michigan libraries. MeL focuses on online access to information, while MeLCat facilitates sharing physical collections across the state.
• Just last year, 67,392 items circulated through IMLS-funded MeL at KDL (patrons borrowed 41,747 items through MeLCat, and KDL in turn loaned 25,645 items to patrons elsewhere in Michigan).
• Examples of online resources provided by MeL include:
  • Niche Academy, providing specialized training for public sector and quality-of-life organizations like libraries, municipalities and care facilities
  • College, career, job and military preparation, including GED test preparation
  • K-12 school resources for teachers, students and homeschoolers
  • Legal forms and resources
  • Browse the resources at https://www.mel.org/

About IMLS

What is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and what are its primary functions?

• IMLS is an independent federal agency established by the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) enacted by Congress in 1996 that provides library grants, museum grants, policy development and research.
• www.imls.gov/

How is the IMLS funded?

• As a federal agency administering discretionary federal programs, IMLS receives its funding through the annual appropriations process.
• While funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (ending Sept. 2025) has been appropriated to the IMLS in the newly approved Continuing Resolution, there are no guarantees of funding for IMLS in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. 

What is the annual IMLS budget?

• The 2024 budget for IMLS was $295 million, which is 0.004% of the 2024 U.S. budget.

Who does IMLS serve?

• 159,678 libraries, museums and archives
  • 17,278 public libraries
  • 3,697 academic libraries
  • 98,506 school libraries
  • 4,396 special libraries (special libraries include Corporate, Law, Medical, Religious, Research, Tribal and other libraries not strictly classified in the other library types here).
  • 801 government libraries
  • 35,000 museums