Tag Archives: Roundup of Statements in Response to Executive Order Impacting the Institute of Museum and Library Services

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:

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)