As the Trump regime gleefully slashes and burns everything in sight, in large part with no forethought or concern about consequences, the latest agency to come under attack is The Institute of Museum and Library Services. This agency, which began in 1996, provides grants to advance, support, and empower museums, libraries and similar institutions across the United States. The staff was summarily dismissed on Monday.
Now, libraries across New Hampshire are trying to prepare for potential funding cuts from both state and federal governments. The state’s funding from the federal government gets administered to NH’s more than 200 libraries through the State Library. Recall how just recently Liberty Alliance member Rep. Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, attempted to defund the State Library as a way to cut down on the proposed state budget. That didn’t go over well and Sweeney backed down.
Fun fact: NH’s State Library is the first to be established in the country, they support library lending programs, manage an assortment of other programs and research databases, including those that archive historical records and government documents. Additionally, there is the Talking Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped program, a Downloadable Books consortium and technology training. Last year the state Library received $1.5 million from the IMLS grant program.
We are once again being called to action to support and protect the mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in its funding of state libraries. Click here to sign an online petition to elected officials urging them to do just that.
Don’t let federal or state extremists take away our right to learn! Speak up, speak out! Hands Off!