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The Most Important Government Agency You've Never Heard Of

February 22, 2020

It’s true, despite using considerably less than 1% of the federal budget, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) manages to fund distinctive projects and services that help communities all over the United States…and it’s on the chopping block yet again!IMLS is a tiny government agency with a huge impact and the complex mission "...to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development." Fine, but what does that look like on the ground?I'm glad you asked.

Trump Cut Funding for Libraries? So what?!

February 17, 2020

Unfortunately, that's the response we hear most often because most Americans don’t know what the Institute of Museum and Library Services does. Which makes it hard to care about when it gets cut.

Libraries, Museums, and a Diverse America

February 17, 2020

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.

Weather the Storm at Your Library

February 16, 2020

When a disaster or crisis hits a community, the public library often serves as a safe haven. Libraries provide a place of comfort, direction, normalcy, and resources to help guide recovery efforts for the people they serve. Library staff frequently serve at their local Emergency Operations Centers during and after a disaster. While we always hope for the best, it’s good to know that in case of a disaster, your library is a cornerstone of recovery.

Creating at the Public Library - from Art to New Careers

February 16, 2020

Everyone knows that their public library is the go-to spot for finding books, music, movies, and other forms of entertainment. But did you know that your public library isn’t just a place to access content, but also a place offering support for you and your community to create content as well?

The IMLS: An Investment in America

February 16, 2020

As the primary source of federal funding for our nation’s libraries and museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) plays a vital role in promoting lifelong learning and literacy for people of all ages, providing invaluable resources to help strengthen America’s cultural institutions and increase public access to the vast wealth of information, ideas, and networks that they have to offer. With its national reach and scope and the ability to spur innovation and creativity at the state, local, and tribal levels, the IMLS is nothing less than an investment in America itself.

10 Amazing Projects Funded by IMLS

February 11, 2020

I wrote an article recently about how Trump is coming after libraries and I wasn’t joking. In Trump’s FY2020 proposed budget, his administration has called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)! This misguided move is obviously bad for libraries because IMLS is the independent government agency that transfers the funds made available through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) — the only Federal funding that is exclusively for libraries — to libraries all around the country!

Trump is Coming After Libraries... Again.

February 11, 2020

There are a lot of political issues about which I have opinions, but do not write about publicly, but this is the FOURTH year in a row that Donald Trump and his administration have called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and I am sick and tired of that it!

Climb Your Family Tree at the Library

February 04, 2020

You may want or even need to find out about your ancestors for all sorts of reasons. Curiosity that has led to a hobby motivates some family tree researchers. Others want to locate something about birth parents they never knew, track down relatives for medical information if facing a heritable disease diagnosis, confirm ethnic status for scholarship eligibility, or establish past nationality ties for emigration purposes. There is an enormous amount of data online — lots of it free. In fact, there is so much and so many of these ancestry questions are so surprisingly complex that a library and a librarian can be the best first stop on the road to your family tree climb.

State Libraries: A Surprising Destination!

January 20, 2020

While most people know about the Library of Congress, individual state libraries are an unusual, and potentially exciting, discovery for many people. Similar to the Library of Congress, state libraries typically started as either purchased or donated collections that were kept on-hand to give legislators ready access to research materials. Since their genesis, however, many state libraries have expanded their purview to include serving as historical archives, resources for public and university libraries and library workers, administrators of grant funding, service providers for people with disabilities, and repositories for various government documents, and more. What you may not know is that many are also lovely places for locals and tourists to visit; besides their collections (which occasionally contain some truly weird items), state libraries host entertaining and educational programs, display fascinating exhibits, and may be housed in building of architectural interest. Here are some wonderful examples of experiences found in state libraries across the United States:
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