State librarian warns federal grant uncertainty could slow Vermont library capital projects and services

Catherine Delnow, Vermont State Librarian and commissioner of the Department of Libraries, told the House Appropriations Committee on April 17 that her department is administering two federally funded capital programs—$16,400,000 from the U.S. Treasury and $10,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—and that ongoing uncertainty at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) threatens program continuity and core services.

Delnow said the Treasury-funded grants have been awarded to 14 public libraries around Vermont and that some projects have already completed construction and received reimbursement. “Brandon Public Library and the Judithan Public Library…have completed their projects and have received their full base award and have now moved on to contingency reimbursements,” she said. She added that the HUD-funded program has not yet launched its application or selected subrecipients.

The department is proposing two full-time limited-service positions to administer the capital projects; Delnow said those positions will be fully federally funded. She stressed the staffing importance for ongoing services: “IMLS funding makes up about 34% of our staff salaries. Only two of…