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“I don’t believe in building libraries or museums” –Trump

April 07, 2026

If you've been following the recent budget announcements, you probably won't be surprised that Trump recently said he doesn't believe in building libraries or museums. Which is probably why page 56 of the budget he released last week included a line item for dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. IMLS is the only federal support for libraries and museums across the country, and it plays an important role.

How Open Educational Resources Expand Access for Everyone

April 07, 2026

What Is OER? Open educational resources (OER) are openly licensed text, media, and digital assets. OER can also include full courses, course materials, modules, and more. OER are often used for instructional purposes, learning, and conducting research. These resources are unique because their copyright licenses allow learners to download, revise, and redistribute the materials freely. In open pedagogy, learners are knowledge creators, and through practice, they learn how knowledge is constructed. Faculty and students cocreate course materials. One example of OER in action: Imagine a professor has an OER textbook assigned to the class. One of the course assignments is to revise a section of the textbook with more up-to-date research. Students must then seek out the information needed to revise the text. The student updates the material, the textbook is peer-reviewed, and a new edition is created. Resources are shared publicly, and they can be revised over time as learning evolves.  

Why Amazon Still Can’t Replace Libraries

March 31, 2026

The earliest known library dates back to the 7th century BC, with the Library of Ashurbanipal in Mosul, Iraq. Today’s libraries continue that long tradition of sharing literature, even if the formats have changed since the days of cuneiform tablets. Still, some people wonder whether modern services like Amazon offer enough to replace libraries.

The Hidden Crisis Behind Rising Library Use: Staffing and Budgets Aren’t Keeping Up

March 27, 2026

Libraries are important pillars of their communities, and while there have been plenty of think pieces over the years claiming libraries are on their way out, the reality is that many people still consider libraries vital public institutions. A recent report from the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) shows that library use has actually been increasing. Unfortunately, staffing and budget levels are not keeping up.

What’s Happening with Illinois Court Access Library Centers?

March 24, 2026

“How do I get my case into mediation?” “What does this document I got from the court mean?” “I’m having a problem with my homeowners' association. Who can I talk to?”

Tell Congress: Protect the Freedom to Read

March 21, 2026

Every day, libraries change lives. A child discovers their first favorite book. A teenager finds a story that helps them feel seen.

Think for Yourself: How Libraries Protect Your Right to Know

March 20, 2026

The age of information is upon us. The internet provides sources for the most arcane levels of knowledge, and with a few keystrokes, people can find information about nearly anything. That would seem to be the height of intellectual freedom. Instead, the world is floundering under the spread of considerable misinformation and disinformation churning out 24/7/365, causing people to wonder what to trust, or worse, to trust sources that aren’t reliable. It appears that, alongside intellectual freedom, people also need help with information literacy, and what better group to help with that than libraries?

The Enduring Power of Carnegie Libraries

March 17, 2026

Walking up the stone steps of a Carnegie library feels different from walking into a store. The tall columns, the carved words above the door, and that soft hush inside all signal that the building belongs to everyone. Across the United States, these libraries still shape how many people picture a public library.

Ban the Bookmobile? Iowa’s HF2324 Targets Library Access

March 13, 2026

Picture a yellow bus pulling up to a rural Iowa school. The doors open, and inside are books, hundreds of them, along with a librarian who knows how to put the right story in the right kid’s hands. For many students, this is their library. Not a building they can get to after school, but a vehicle that comes to them. Iowa House File 2324 wants to stop that bus.

Public Libraries Have Been Struggling to Keep Their Buildings Safe for over 20 Years

March 10, 2026

Since 2003, public libraries have been prohibited from using a major source of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to cover construction fees that help keep patrons, buildings, and contents safe.
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