On Wednesday, April 2, a California State Library spokesman said the institution had not been informed of any changes to its budget, but that changes in federal funding might be coming, perhaps in the July budget for the coming fiscal year.
Well, it didn’t take that long.
By 5 p.m. that same day, the state library had received a brief two-page memorandum that the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was ending its current 2024-2025 grant to the state. Or rather, it had already stopped — the order to terminate funding was retroactive to April Fool’s Day.
“We are deeply disappointed by this ill-informed decision, which immediately affects critical programs supported by these funds,” said Rebecca Wendt, California Deputy State Librarian, in a statement. “The California State Library remains committed to serving all of the people of California and will explore alternative means to ensure continued access to essential library services.”
According to information provided by the California State Library, the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant money, which amounted to more than $15 million, helped fund a variety of services provided by the state’s 1,100 libraries, including in part: early learning and literacy programs; story times and play spaces for low-income families; summer reading initiatives; workforce skill-building for at-risk youth; and expansion of an initiative to ensure all California students receive a public library card by third grade.
The funds were also used for everything from tool libraries, telehealth services for people without home internet access, free access to the New York Times, and more. Nearly 21 million Californians have library cards, and the state’s libraries logged 86 million visits in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, per the Library.
According to the memorandum signed by Keith Sonderling, an appointee of President Trump who pledged to be “in lockstep” with the administration when he was sworn in as acting director two weeks ago, “This grant is unfortunately inconsistent with IMLS’ priorities,” wrote Sonderling, who added that “an audit may be conducted by IMLS” after termination.
Regarding the claim of “inconsistent” use of the grant, of which nearly 20% had yet to be delivered to the state, the library sees things differently.
“We strongly disagree with that,” says Alex Vassar, Communications Manager for the California State Library. “There’s statutory language on why IMLS exists to support local libraries and provide library services, and we think that our grant application and the grant was very much in line with what that was for.”
As an example, Vassar pointed to the grant-supported Braille and Talking Book Library, which could lose support staff, such as reader advisers who provide services like answering phones and helping patrons, and the digital and recording staff who work on audiobooks. The Braille and Talking Book Library serves 48 of California’s 58 counties.
Another program affected was only launched last week: California’s Bookshelf, which provides free access to 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks in 20 different languages to users across the state. Requiring only a name and email address, the service is designed to make it easier for anyone — but especially those in rural or remote areas — to access the books they want to read.
“If you’re living a little bit farther out and you’re not able to make it into your local library as easily, it allows you to download books online. And also, if you have a library that doesn’t have what you’re looking for, it provides another avenue to access books,” said Vassar on Wednesday in a conversation before the grants had been terminated.
On April 3, Vassar said he didn’t know how the week-old service would be affected. “That’s a federally funded program — and no solid information on how that’s going to work out.”
So what does that mean for California libraries and their patrons?
“Librarians are professionals. They are trying to deliver the information that people need for their entertainment, for their lives, for their careers,” says Vassar.
“Libraries are here. They’re a part of our communities,” says Vassar. “But there will be some noticeable changes.”
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