Important Library Funding Bill

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ReadersFirst strongly advocates renewing IMLS funding. Many of our members have used IMPLS grants to make a streamlined and interoperable e-content experience a reality.

Every year, nearly $200 million in federal library funding is awarded to every state in the nation by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS can do that work, and gets the funding it needs, in no small measure because Congress passed and periodically "reauthorizes" the Museum and Library Services Act. It's time for Congress to renew that important landmark legislation again and library champions in the Senate have just introduced a bill, S. 3391, to do exactly that. With just a few weeks remaining after the November elections to get it passed, however, we need to help them help us by getting as many other Senators to "co-sponsor" S. 3391 as possible.  

Please, don't wait until November. Act now to email or call your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor S. 3391, the Museum and Library Services Act, as soon as they get back to Washington.

The more cosponsors we can get, the better the odds that the key Senate "HELP" Committee will act on the bill when the Senate returns so that the full Senate will have the chance to approve it before the 114th Congress comes to a close in December.

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Talking Points:

  • S. 3391 is a bi-partisan bill with broad support from the library and museum communities, and in Congress;
  • S. 3391 requires the use of data driven tools, including research, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination to assess and assure the impact and effectiveness of funded programs;
  • S. 3391 highlights the role of libraries as community hubs, equipped to meet ever evolving community needs, including: literacy, education, lifelong learning, workforce development, economic and business development, digital literacy skills critical thinking, financial literacy skills and new and emerging technology; and

S. 3391 will enhance IMLS' collaborative efforts by expanding the number of federal agencies able to fully leverage the role of libraries and museums in supporting and meeting the needs of Americans.