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Library director warns interlibrary-loan courier contracts could end as matching federal grants change
Summary
Library director Sarah told the City Commission that changes to matching federal grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services could cause courier contracts that carry interlibrary loans to end for parts of the state; eastern-side contracts expire at the end of the month and local contracts on Sept. 30.
The city’s library director, identified in the record as Sarah, told the City Commission at its April 21 meeting that changes to federal matching grants administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services could disrupt courier contracts that support interlibrary loans.
Sarah said she received notice last week that an executive order tied to federal grant administration has already put the Eastern side of the state’s courier contract at risk; that contract ends “the thirtieth of this month,” she said. On the city’s side of the state, Sarah said the courier contract currently runs through Sept. 30. She said library directors in the region are exploring short-term fixes such as sharing costs among libraries or reducing courier frequency from twice weekly to once weekly to keep materials moving while they seek a longer-term solution.
“This is a little heartbreaking,” Sarah said, adding the change could mean “additional dollars from a municipal level from all communities across South Dakota.” She said the state library had been funded previously in a way that allowed libraries to secure matching federal grants, and that the current change removes or reduces those matching funds.
Sarah said she would keep the commission updated as directors and staff work on options.
The transcript does not show the commission taking formal action on the library’s report during the April 21 meeting.
