Take Action: Help Protect Institute of Museum and Library Services Funding

Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the form of grants provides about one-third of the Vermont Department of Libraries budget. The department strategically uses these funds to directly benefit Vermonters through their local libraries. This includes the extremely popular statewide interlibrary loan infrastructure. Following a March 14, 2025, Executive Order, President Donald Trump dismantled IMLS and halted all grant funding.

If you’d like to help bring attention to President Trump’s Executive Order that includes defunding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), here are some simple but meaningful ways to get involved.

1 – Understand the Executive Order

Read the Executive Order (EO) itself so you’re informed about its content and implications: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/

The American Library Association has a great FAQ page to help understand the implications of the EO:
https://www.ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls

This American Libraries Magazine article gives a breakdown on the EO:
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/white-house-attacks-libraries/

2 – Read the Vermont Library Association’s (VLA) Statement in Response

VLA has issued a response outlining how this order would impact the Vermont Department of Libraries, the services they provide, and ultimately everyone in our communities. Read it and share it:
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-association-statement-of-support-of-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services

3 – Explore Action Items from EveryLibrary and ALA

Both EveryLibrary and the American Library Association (ALA) have created action platforms in response to this threat:

Sign the EveryLibrary petition: https://www.everylibrary.org/statementimls2025
Fill out the ALA’s “Show Up for Libraries” form, (https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=23577) be sure to personalize it — especially by describing how IMLS LSTA funding specifically supports your library and community.

Note: These platforms send auto-generated emails to elected officials, but you can make an even stronger impact by calling directly.

4 – Contact Vermont’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Phil Scott

Senator Bernie Sanders
332 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776.

Senator Peter Welch
124 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4242
Fax: 802-651-1674

Representative Becca Balint
1510 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4115
Fax: 771-200-5791

Governor Phil Scott
Pavilion Building
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
802-828-3333
TTY: 800-649-6825
Fax: 802-828-3339

If you call you’ll likely reach voicemail, which is perfectly fine — leave a message! Here’s a sample script:

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your Town]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative/Governor] to oppose all efforts by the Trump administration to defund and abolish IMLS. IMLS is essential to Vermont libraries. It provides funding we rely on to support [briefly mention a local program or service]. This funding is critical to meeting the educational, economic, and community needs of Vermonters.”

5 – Share these calls to action with your friends, family, and colleagues.

6 – Create a bookmark to put into all books that you lend through ILL that includes the following:

InterLibrary Loan is a service funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Please call Senator Welch (202-224-4242), Senator Sanders (202-224-5141), and Representative Balint (202-225-4115) and urge them to protect IMLS from President Trump’s cuts.

Thanks to New Hampshire librarians for this idea! If anyone creates one they can share, please do! Here are some sample bookmarks.

7 – Read Library Journal’s Roundup of Statements in Response to Executive Order Impacting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):
https://www.infodocket.com/2025/03/17/roundup-statements-in-response-to-executive-order-impacting-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services-imls/

This page was updated on April 15, 2025 (sl)

Vermont Library Association Statement of Support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

President Trump’s Executive Order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) poses a serious threat to Vermont’s libraries and the communities they serve. The elimination or drastic reduction in functions and funding of IMLS would effectively strip away essential Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants and other federal support that Vermont relies on to sustain its library network.

The impact of this Executive Order would have profound consequences across Vermont, where libraries are lifelines—especially in rural and underserved areas. Vermont’s libraries depend on IMLS funding to support critical initiatives outlined in the state’s 2023–2027 Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Plan.

Without these federal investments, Vermont would lose vital programs that:

· Enable resource sharing between small libraries that cannot independently maintain comprehensive collections;

· Provide training and continuing education to library staff, many of whom serve in communities struggling to attract and retain qualified professionals;

· Sustain the ABLE Library, which ensures equitable access to reading materials for those who are blind, dyslexic, or print disabled;

· Support youth and early literacy programming, helping children build lifelong learning habits from an early age;

· Deliver library services to traditionally underserved populations, including low-income families and those in institutional settings;

· Offer workforce development resources, helping Vermonters gain the skills and tools needed to succeed in today’s economy;

· Ensure free access to broadband internet, a crucial service for rural residents who often lack reliable home connectivity;

· Provide consultancy and advisory services to library boards and trustees, helping ensure equitable access across municipalities;

· Supply digital resources like databases, eBooks, and eAudiobooks, supporting flexible learning beyond traditional library hours;

· Support technology training and consulting, enabling libraries to stay current with rapid technological changes.

These resources are not luxuries—they are essential to maintaining education equity, economic opportunity, and community well-being across Vermont.

Eliminating IMLS would jeopardize the future of public libraries as inclusive, accessible community anchors. It would widen the digital divide, hinder educational advancement, and leave behind the very populations that federal programs are intended to support.

We strongly oppose this Executive Order and urge policymakers to continue funding the IMLS, as investing in libraries promotes efficiency and lays the foundation for informed, educated, and connected communities.

March 25, 2025

Take Action: Help Protect Institute of Museum and Library Services Funding

For more information, contact Mary Danko, president, Vermont Library Association
president@vermontlibraries.org

Four Vermont Libraries Share $90,000 WaterWheel Foundation Flood Relief Donation

The Vermont Library Association distributed a $90,000 donation from The WaterWheel Foundation Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, to be used for Vermont libraries impacted by the July 2023 flooding. Ainsworth Public Library in Williamstown, Craftsbury Public Library in Craftsbury Common, Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, and Johnson Public Library in Johnson have received funds.

“Libraries serve as information hubs, gathering spaces, and welcoming centers in towns, villages, and cities across our state,” said Margaret Woodruff, Vermont Library Association Government Relations and Advocacy chair. “The damage inflicted by the July 2023 storms and subsequent flooding affected entire communities beyond the building. It is a testament to the impacted libraries’ resiliency that the staff pivoted to continue to provide essential services to their communities with creativity and improvisation.”

The impacts of the catastrophic flooding in July 2023 were experienced in many Vermont communities and included the libraries. Public libraries suffered damage to their buildings and loss of resources. The rebuilding and repair process has been ongoing, but there is still more work to be done.

“This very generous donation from the WaterWheel Foundation Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation will allow the staff and boards of these libraries to plan and implement more permanent repairs and renovations and establish more resilient structures and practices for the future.” said Mary Danko, Vermont Library Association president.

The WaterWheel Foundation has been inspiring the Phish community to create positive change by funding nonprofit organizations and helping those in need since 1997. The Vermont Library Association (VLA) is an educational organization working to develop, promote, and improve library and information services and librarianship in the state of Vermont since 1893.

Vermont Library Freedom to Read Statement

Intellectual freedom is the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society; it promotes access to information and guides the defense against censorship.

In 1953, the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers jointly released The Freedom to Read Statement. This statement reminded us that, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack” (ALA, 2004). Now, seventy years later, a resurgence of attacks on the freedom to read again threatens our democracy. Calls for book bans, the adoption of unconstitutional legislation, and campaigns to criminalize librarians for distributing materials protected by the First Amendment threaten our fundamental liberties.

Vermont librarians are joining together to emphatically reaffirm their commitment to the values expressed in the American Library Association’s intellectual freedom documents, including The Freedom to Read Statement. We believe all Vermonters deserve free access to materials that function as windows and mirrors, both reflecting individuals’ experiences and providing expanded, diverse views of the world (Bishop, 1990). We also believe that people are only truly free when they can read freely.

Jointly issued by the governing boards of the Vermont School Library Association and the Vermont Library Association, January 2024.

REFERENCES

American Library Association. “The Freedom To Read Statement.” ALA Advocacy, 2004,
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement

Bishop, Rudine Simms. “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, vol. 6, no. 3, 1990.
https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

Procedure for Developing a Vermont Library Association Issue Statement

1 – Any Vermont Library Association (VLA) member may propose that VLA develop a statement around an issue by emailing their suggestion to VLA’s executive committee. Executive committee member names and emails are on this page: https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory

2 – The executive committee votes on this, assigns someone to draft the statement, and alerts the entire board and the person who submitted the suggestion that this is in progress. The board has three to five days to finalize the vote. If the executive committee votes not to write a statement on the suggested issue, the president will email the person who made the suggestion with the reason.

3 – Once the statement is drafted, it is reviewed by the entire board with suggestions to the author. The entire board has three to five days to comment on the draft.

4 – A second draft based on edits from the suggestions is shared with the entire membership for comment. The membership is given five to seven business days to comment on the draft.

5 – If there are no significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the statement is final. If there are significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the revised statement should be approved by a majority of the board. The board has three working days to approve.

6 – The final statement is emailed by the president to the digital communications coordinator/s (https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory) for posting to VLA’s website and social media accounts; and to all current members. The board may decide to also issue a press release.

7 – These timelines are guidelines and may be adjusted due to unforeseen issues.

Informational press releases may be published by a variety of section leaders without prior approval.

Adopted by the Vermont Library Association Board of Trustees, November 2023

Vermont Library Association Statement on Critical Race Theory

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) stands firmly against any legislation that restricts or impedes any education on Racism, “Divisive” Concepts, Racial Injustice, Black American History, and Diversity Education in libraries and educational institutions. This includes any books, resources, curriculum, or programming that libraries provide. Furthermore, we believe that it is imperative to call attention to portions of our history that have been previously omitted, misrepresented, distorted or misstated.

VLA is committed to upholding intellectual freedom in all of our libraries: Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Academic Libraries. People must be able to access information without censorship and without fear that their intellectual inquiries are illegal. It is only through the vigorous upholding of freedoms of speech and inquiry that we can truly be a democratic nation that strives not only to understand its history, but to learn and become better from it.

Libraries and librarians have had a long history of upholding all forms of intellectual freedom. The current attacks and efforts to use legislation to suppress it are alarming, and are reaching unprecedented numbers throughout our country. Critical thinking and civil discourse for all points of view must be protected and encouraged in a democracy. Any attack on these tenets is an affront to the rights of all people and is intended to work against the values of equity, diversity and inclusion for which all libraries strive for.

VLA is committed to supporting our librarians and the communities they serve. We pledge to defend, assist, and stand with our members if and when they are challenged. Furthermore, we pledge to continue to educate our communities on the importance of holding sacred the freedoms that the United States of America was built on, not only as an inalienable right, but as foundational to our democracy and our efforts to be an example of a true, thriving democracy throughout the world.

The Vermont Library Association is in agreement with, and stands firmly with, the American Library Association’s Statement on Censorship of Information Addressing Racial Injustice, Black American History, and Diversity Education of August 18, 2021.

The Vermont Library Association is in agreement with, and stands firmly with, the American Library Association’s Statement on Book Censorship of November 29, 2021.

Additional resources on Critical Race Theory

The American Bar Association: A Lesson on Critical Race Theory
New York Times: What is Critical Race Theory?
ACLU: State Lawmakers Are Trying to Ban Talk About Race in Schools

PDF of this statement formatted as a press release.

Legislative Breakfast Materials!

The Vermont Library Association’s Government Relations committee has revised materials that libraries can use to host regional legislative breakfasts, as a way of outreaching to your representatives and senators in the Vermont statehouse and apprising them of the contributions libraries make to Vermont and Vermonters. You can find suggested instructions along with a sample invitation, agenda, press release, talking points, FAQ’s and more here:

UPDATE: Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

This is an important message from the Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) about the public hearings that start today for the Vermont State Education Quality Standards. Secretary of Education Armando Vilaseca has stated that the language that VSLA proposed for the new standards will be included in the new document. Here are his exact words:

“I wanted to make sure that the librarians that you all come in contact with understand that we agree that the current language of not including librarians in the initial rules was not correct. We (AOE) also agree with the language suggestions you and others made at our meeting.”

This means that VSLA no longer needs librarians and library advocates to state their argument or plea to add wording to the Vermont Quality Education Standards.

If you do choose to come out and support school librarians in Vermont at the upcoming public hearings, here’s a supportive script:

My name is _____ and I work at _____School. I am representing the ___ librarians, ___ teachers, ___ parents and ___ community members that are here tonight. We would like tothank you for providing these important Education Quality Standards for the students in Vermont schools and for accepting the language that Vermont school librarians have suggested be included in the standards. We are happy that you have acknowledged our contributions to the Vermont education and we will continue to celebrate the good work we do with the students in our schools. Thank you.

Please keep it short and positive!

Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

The Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) needs your support! Please plan to attend one of the 3 public hearings about reinstating library language in the proposed Vermont Education Quality Standards. Stand up for Vermont students and their need for qualified professional librarians at their schools. Take colleagues with you, invite teachers, parents, and other community members who support the valuable work that school librarians do. Add your voice to the public comments on this issue and ask others to add theirs. This is how change will happen.

October 8, 6 p.m., Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd., Brattleboro, Multipurpose Room
October 17, 4 p.m., Lake Region Union High School, 317 Lake Region Rd., Orleans, Multipurpose Room
October 21, 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg, Room 140

If you have any questions, please contact VSLA President-Elect Denise Wentz.Thank you in advance for your part in this advocacy initiative!

CANCELLED – VT & NH Library Leadership Day

The joint VLA/NHLA Library Leadership Workshop featuring ALA-President Maureen Sullivan planned for May 6^th in Manchester, NH has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with Maureen’s calendar. At this time, there are no plans to reschedule this workshop. VLA and NHLA will continue to explore other partnership opportunities that will benefit our members by enriching our profession and strengthening our libraries.

Maureen Sullivan, ALA President and Simmons management guru, will once again lead a Vermont/New Hampshire Library Leadership Day. Save the date—Monday, May 6, 2013. This year the Manchester City Library in New Hampshire is hosting the event—so start thinking carpools. Library Leadership Day is sponsored by the Vermont Library Association and the New Hampshire Library Association.