Washington’s state library just lost federal funding — here’s what that means

Both the American Library Association and 20 state attorneys general are suing the Trump administration for its efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS. 

The plaintiffs claim that an executive order calling for the agency’s elimination is unconstitutional, because its funding was already approved by Congress. 

The IMLS has already placed its roughly 70 employees on administrative leave. And last week, it announced it was terminating grants to state libraries in Connecticut, California and Washington. It said the funding was “inconsistent” with the agency’s priorities. 

Sara Jones is the Washington State Librarian. Her organization lost a $3.9 million grant. 

“ I’m really sad that this is the state of affairs,” she said. “That this very small piece of money that did such good work is just being somehow viewed as unimportant.” 

City and county tax dollars are the primary source of funding for local libraries. But the state library provides technical training and support. 

The state library also has a federally-funded employee who oversees a consortium of 40 library systems that collectively purchase ebook and audiobook licenses. If that position is eliminated, Jones worries that libraries won’t be able to afford ebooks or audiobooks. 

In addition, federal funds help the state library offer some databases and research tools to local libraries — and help it provide support to tribal libraries, as well as those in prisons, schools and hospitals. 

“ I say, without I think any kind of exaggeration, we have some touch and importance to every library in the state of Washington,” Jones said. 

Overall, the IMLS distributes over $160 million annually to libraries in every state. 

The Washington State Library’s grant was terminated six months early, so it’s already spent money for which it’s not going to be reimbursed. 

In total, federal money accounts for about one-third of the state library’s budget. While Jones is waiting to see how the state budget shakes out, she said she’ll be lucky if she can keep half her staff of around 80 people. 

Jones said the impact will be felt most acutely by small and rural libraries, which rely more heavily on the state library’s resources. 

Heather VanTassell is director of the Walla Walla Public Library. 

“ It is maddening and it’s frustrating, and I feel like there’s a lack of understanding,” she said. “They say they’re cutting it because it’s wasteful, but libraries and museums, we stretch every dollar to the fullest extent.” 

An Instagram post published under the IMLS account stated: “The era of using your taxpayer dollars to fund DEI grants is OVER.” 

NWPB sent an email to the IMLS media contact to ask about the grants and the future of the agency. The email was returned as undeliverable.