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Library staff warn closure of federal IMLS could reduce state support for New Mexico libraries
Summary
Staff reported that the Biden administration action to dissolve the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) could put about $1.8 million in state-level library funding at risk and may affect databases and services funded through the New Mexico State Library.
A library staff update at the Los Alamos County Library Board meeting described the possible impacts should the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) be closed at the federal level. Staff said the IMLS distributes federal funds to state libraries and that New Mexico typically receives about $1.8 million in IMLS-supported funding for libraries statewide.
The staff member reported that if IMLS funding were withdrawn, some statewide services funded through the New Mexico State Library could be at risk, including database subscriptions (such as Gale periodical resources and news databases) and digital newspaper access. The state also supports services for blind and print-disabled patrons; staff said those services could be affected if the state cannot replace lost federal support. The staff member said Los Alamos County’s library is somewhat insulated because the majority of its operating funds come from county appropriations, but smaller local libraries statewide would likely feel a greater fiscal impact.
Board members discussed potential local effects and whether the library would need to assume costs for subscriptions currently paid by the state library. The staff reported that a list of potentially affected subscriptions and estimated replacement costs is being prepared but had not been completed at the time of the meeting. Board members suggested the board summarize factual information in monthly communications; one board member pointed attendees to background material from national library organizations.
Meeting remarks referenced a lawsuit by a group of states (reported in the session as “filed by 21 states”) challenging the federal action; staff said there was no further news on litigation. The staff noted that the county’s funding structure reduces immediate risk to Los Alamos services but that the closure could have disproportionate consequences for smaller, rural and underfunded libraries elsewhere in the state.
