Maine State Library urges Legislature to convert three federal positions to state funding amid uncertain IMLS support
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Summary
Maine State Librarian Lori Stockman told joint appropriations and education committees the library lost staff after an inaccessible IMLS grant and seeks to move three positions to state funding and add $2.25 million for AI education and subgrants to shore up library services statewide.
Lori Stockman, Maine State Librarian, asked the joint Appropriations and Education committees to approve three personnel moves from federal to general fund support and to include $2.25 million for AI-related initiatives in the governor's supplemental budget. Stockman said the Library lost eight federally funded staff in May 2025 after Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funds were inaccessible, and though some federal funding was later reinstated, uncertainty remains while litigation and potential rescissions continue.
—"We were obligated to lay off 8 staff funded through that annual grant in May," Stockman said, and added that library development and public outreach were hit hardest. She described restoring one library development position and urged prioritizing three positions for continuity: half the MaineInfoNet executive director salary, a full-time library section supervisor for public outreach (who would direct the Talking Books program), and a full-time librarian for specialized services in library development.
Stockman told committee members those positions support resource sharing (MaineCat), digital resources, interlibrary loan, and services for blind and visually impaired patrons. She said moving these roles to the state payroll would preserve essential statewide access even if federal IMLS grants are delayed or cut.
Beyond personnel, Stockman described a $2.25 million package tied to the governor's AI Task Force. That package would fund public-literacy and safety programs for AI, subgrants to public libraries for training and hardware, and competitive grants to deploy local AI-focused literacy and safety work. Stockman said libraries' reach and free internet access make them appropriate venues for digital and AI literacy efforts for less-resourced Mainers.
Stockman acknowledged that hiring and contracting for AI training will rely on partnerships, and cited possible collaborators including the University of Maine, Colby College, Northeastern University's Roo Institute, and other in-state institutions. On reopening the Cultural Building after renovations, she said some staff have returned and the library plans to reopen to the public in state fiscal year 2027.
The committee limited questions to clarifying items; members pressed Stockman on contingency plans if federal funds return and on how training partners will be selected. Stockman said the MSL will continue surveying libraries and planning the AI work with partners regardless of whether the funding is approved.