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Mass. library leaders say federal IMLS cuts will end statewide databases, cancel grants and threaten staff
Summary
Library officials told a joint legislative hearing that the elimination and pause of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding has forced Massachusetts to cancel competitive grants, cut statewide research databases and put dozens of MBLC-paid positions and local services at risk.
State library leaders told a joint legislative hearing that abrupt federal changes to Institute of Museum and Library Services funding have already removed grants, forced cuts to statewide online resources, and put agency staff positions at risk.
"The Boston Public Library also serves as the library for the Commonwealth," said David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library, testifying that two National Endowment for the Humanities grants totaling $500,000 were canceled and that the library can no longer guarantee statewide access to several subscription databases that schoolchildren and students rely on.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and public library directors described a three-part reliance on federal LSTA/IMLS money — statewide databases, competitive local grants and MBLC staffing — and said the Commonwealth has no state line-item that fully replaces the federal dollars. "For the past 29 years, IMLS has been the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries," MBLC Director Maureen Amjad said, adding that Massachusetts…
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