Learn About IMLS

Since 1996, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has supported libraries and museums across the United States, helping these organizations transform the lives of individuals and communities through grantmaking, research, and policy development.

The IMLS federal agency awards significant grants to US libraries and museums. Unfortunately, it's facing threats of budget cuts and the elimination of vital team members who support the community needs of library facilities. Here’s what you need to know about the IMLS and why canceling current grants will devastate US community members.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) does a lot to help libraries and museums, but it has recently come under attack. While IMLS has faced the threat of funding cuts before, the department is now being gutted, its future uncertain. Many people probably have never heard of IMLS, but it is actually a vital lifeline for libraries and museums across the United States.

With summer on the horizon, many families are excited for the return of a beloved tradition: the library's summer reading program.

Imagine settling into your daily commute with an engaging audiobook or streaming a blockbuster movie free from your library, anytime and anywhere. Thanks to Hoopla, this kind of access is a reality for millions of Americans. But this modern library perk is in jeopardy.

A proposed federal budget for FY26 threatens to eliminate funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). And it's this very agency that helps make digital services like Hoopla possible.

With the recent chaos surrounding the future of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), people are concerned about libraries around the country losing vital government funding. Most of the uproar against the proposed cuts has centered on how important public libraries are to their communities. However, there’s another type of library that will also be affected by these funding cuts—one that is indispensable to the community it serves.

Prison libraries are a lifeline to many people who are incarcerated. They depend heavily on IMLS grants, and if IMLS is dismantled or suffers severe funding cuts, then prison libraries will struggle to exist.

Ever tracked down a rare book, niche journal article, or out-of-print novel through your library, even though it wasn’t on their shelves? You have the magic of interlibrary loan (ILL) to thank. This powerful service connects libraries across the nation, so you can get what you need. But sadly, it could soon be gone.

The Administration’s FY2027 budget proposal forces the shutdown of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal funding source for libraries and museums.

But what does federal funding pay for, and why does it matter?

You might be surprised.

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