At the end of 2017, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2017 (S. 2271) was introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). This Act reauthorizes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), the federal program that exclusively funds libraries.
Authorization for IMLS and LSTA expired in 2016. Without reauthorization, funding for these programs could be subject to cuts during the FY 2019 budget process. LSTA provides more than $183M to libraries.
SPARC urges US-based individuals to contact your Senators to ask them to cosponsor S. 2271 and support the important work that your library does for your community. Messages to Congress can be sent through the ALA’s legislative action portal.