An Executive Order dated March 14th can potentially reduce or eliminate funding for federal Library Services. This will not hurt large libraries in big cities powered by tax dollars, but it will severely limit the number of staff, books, e-books, and audiobooks available for smaller towns that rely on grant money.

Here is what libraries are saying

“For us, it will be Georgia Pines–our entire circulation system software. This software allows people to search for books at our local library and other libraries in the state. If our library doesn’t have a book, we can place an available book in another library in the state on hold, and they will deliver it to our local library. They will call/text when it is ready to pick up. In addition, if this funding is gone, it will also get rid of our summer reading program. Hundreds, if not thousands, of children in our county participate in the summer reading program because the school district also participates in it, making it a contest. This means children are READING during the summer. Adults participate in the summer reading program as well. And that’s just two of the items that would be gone.”

Specifically, IMLS funds our Summer Reading Program, PINES, GALILEO research databases, the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, and other early literacy initiatives. Without this funding, we could lose our circulation software and the statewide Interlibrary Loan service available through the PINES network. Georgia communities benefited from 5.2 million dollars in federal library funding last year.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives provides residents access to a digital collection of e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and streaming video and offers statewide training for library staff. The library received $3,689,581 in grant money in 2024 to fuel their collection.

The American Library Association said, “Americans have loved and relied on public, school, and academic libraries for generations. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump administration’s executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer.”

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced on Monday that funding will pause pending an investigation into a platform that provides content to K-12 school libraries nationwide. Overdrive Libby and Overdrive Sora have been paused, and no new materials will be purchased.

Michael Kozlowski

Editor-in-chief | michael@goodereader.com

Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.