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Library board approves letter urging rejection of proposed federal IMLS cuts
Summary
The board approved a draft letter, with toned language, asking congressional representatives and local editors to oppose proposed cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services and to protect programs such as interlibrary loan and ABLE services for patrons with print disabilities.
Trustees voted to send a letter urging federal and local leaders to oppose proposed reductions to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), arguing the cuts would threaten services relied on by South Burlington residents.
During the meeting a trustee read the draft aloud: "We urge you to reject any budget that includes cuts to IMLS or otherwise undermines the critical mission of our nation's libraries." Trustees recommended softening certainty-language to reflect ongoing changes (suggesting "may" or "might" instead of "will") and agreed to distribute the letter to congressional representatives, the editor of a local paper, the Digger opinion pages, and via library and foundation social channels.
Board members explained the rationale behind outreach: the draft cites potential impacts on interlibrary loan and ABLE services, noting that without federal support "the Vermont Department of Libraries stands to lose roughly 0.333 of its funding" (as stated in the draft). Trustees asked staff to post the letter on the library website and coordinate publication in the foundation and city newsletters.
