Library Funding
91´«Ã½
Summary of Positions
- 91´«Ã½ works to preserve and increase all current levels of federal funding for libraries across the country.
- 91´«Ã½ works to preserve and enhance the (IMLS), which distributes funds through state grants and the (LSTA) per a national formula with a state match.
- 91´«Ã½ works to preserve and enhance the (IAL) grant program from the U.S. Department of Education, which supports school libraries and non-profit literacy organizations working to improve reading skills at the most critical early years of a child's development.
- 91´«Ã½ communicates to Congress about the importance of funding federal libraries, like the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Libraries, the National Agricultural Library, and the National Library of Medicine.
The Issue
The majority of federal library funds are distributed through the Institute of Museum and Library Services to each state through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant program from the U.S. Department of Education supports school libraries working to foster reading skills at the most critical early years of a child's development. LSTA and IAL provide critical assistance, giving libraries across the country the financial support they need to serve their communities.
With $189.3 million in LSTA funds, more than 120,000 public, academic, government, and special libraries are able to advance entrepreneurship, employment, and education in communities across the country. LSTA prepares students for today’s job market by providing coding and STEM activities. LSTA funds business development assistance programs for entrepreneurs, provided by skilled business and technology outreach librarians.
To cut funding for libraries means to undercut opportunities provided to all Americans. 91´«Ã½ advocates energetically to urge Congress to continue to make full funding for our nation’s libraries a priority.
Related
Recent Advocacy & Tools
- FY 2025 funding chart detailing ten-year history of appropriations for federal library programs (March 29, 2024)
Past Advocacy and Tools
- Coalition letter to Congressional appropriators in support of increased funding for the Community Development Block Grant program (November 8, 2022)
- Coalition letter regarding building provisions in future clean energy legislation (June 2, 2022)
- FY 2023 funding chart detailing five-year history of appropriations for federal library programs (March 14, 2022)
- Coalition letter to President Biden and Congressional leadership urging action to fund & support America's charitable nonprofits (February 14, 2022)
- Letter to Congressional leadership urging a close to the FY22 appropriations process (February 1, 2022)
- Comments to the Federal Highway Administration on Development of Guidance for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Deployment (January 18, 2022)
- Coalition letter to Appropriations Committees urging an increase in CDBG Block funding (August 2, 2021)
- Coalition Letter calling for $350 billion in state and local funding in a Covid relief package (February 12, 2021)
- Facts about Earmarks: 91´«Ã½ Resource for libraries (May 25, 2021)
- AFSCME Coalition Letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for $1 trillion in aid to state, local, and tribal governments (January 13, 2021)
- Coalition Letter to Biden Transition Team regarding CDBG Block funding (December 1, 2020)
- Coalition Letter to Congressional Appropriations leadership regarding CDBG Block Funding (November 25, 2020)
- Correspondence Archive
Past Appropriator Letters
- FY21 Senate Letter on LSTA (March 27, 2020)
- FY21 Senate Letter on IAL (March 27, 2020)
- FY21 House Letter on LSTA (March 13, 2020)
- FY21 House Letter on IAL (March 13, 2020)
- FY20 Senate Letter on LSTA (April 15, 2019)
- FY20 Senate Letter on IAL (April 15, 2019)
- FY20 House Letter on LSTA (March 28, 2019)
- FY20 House Letter on IAL (March 28, 2019)
- FY19 Senate Letter on LSTA (April 13, 2018)
- FY19 Senate Letter on IAL (April 13, 2018)
- FY19 House Letter on LSTA (March 19, 2018)
- FY19 House Letter on IAL (March 19, 2018)
- (May 25, 2017)
- (May 25, 2017)
- (April 6, 2017
- (April 6, 2017)
- FY17 Senate Letter on LSTA (March 17, 2016)
- FY17 Senate Letter on IAL (March 17, 2016)
- FY17 House Letter on LSTA (March 24, 2016)
- FY17 House Letter on IAL (March 24, 2016)
Staff Contact Information
Kevin Maher
Deputy Director, Advocacy and Public Policy
kmaher@alawash.org