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Library advocate warns Siuslaw board that federal IMLS cuts could strip district digital resources
Summary
Jennifer McKinsey urged the board to consider the impact of proposed federal cuts to the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), warning the loss would jeopardize Gale database access, ebooks/audiobooks, the Sage courier service, and other supports the district benefits from.
During public comment, Jennifer McKinsey, representing the district's library team, urged the board to consider the potential impact of federal cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). She said the State Library of Oregon leverages federal IMLS funding for services the district uses, including Gale database access, ebook and audiobook platforms, Answerland (24/7 librarian assistance), multilingual book access, and the Sage courier that links rural libraries.
McKinsey told board members the State Library often provides a 2-to-1 match on federal funds and that the district could face direct costs if state funding is reduced; she said replacing Gale database access alone could cost the district in the tens of thousands of dollars. "If the district had to pick up the current cost that the state library is paying for Gale databases... it might be $47,000," she said. McKinsey handed the board a draft Oregon Library Association letter with links and asked the district to circulate it to other boards and stakeholders.
