The American Library Association (ALA) is suing to protect libraries.
ALA is joining forces with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union representing museum and library workers, to challenge the Trump administration’s gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a non-partisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums and libraries and museums and the crucial community services they provide in every state across the country. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of ALA and AFSCME by Democracy Forward and co-counsel Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, asks the court to block the dismantling of the IMLS as directed by a Trump executive order.
Become a Supporter
IMLS was first created and funded by Congress in 1996 to support America’s libraries and museums. It has had bipartisan support throughout its history and was reauthorized under the Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. IMLS is bound by laws requiring that the agency conduct certain activities to support libraries and report on important issues to Congress. The complaint argues that cutting programs at IMLS will violate the law by eliminating programs Congress has provided funding for and directed IMLS to undertake.
Shortly after the administration’s executive order was announced, ALA sent a letter to the new IMLS acting director, warning not to cut any programs at the agency protected by law.
“Libraries play an important role in our democracy, from preserving history to providing access to government information, advancing literacy and civic engagement, and offering access to a variety of perspectives,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “These values are worth defending. We will not allow extremists to threaten our democracy by eliminating programs at IMLS and harming the children and communities who rely on libraries and the services and opportunities they provide.”
This case continues Democracy Forward’s record of working with communities, parents, and libraries to defend the freedom to read. That work has included efforts in Arkansas, where it represented a coalition of librarians, booksellers, and readers who successfully prevented portions of an Arkansas law that threatens to criminalize librarians and booksellers from taking effect is asking a court to permanently stop the law from being enforced; Florida, where it represented the Florida Education Association, Florida Freedom to Read Project, and Families for Strong Public Schools to challenge the DeSantis administration’s actions that shutter classroom libraries and undermine public education in Florida; and in Alabama, where it is representing a group of Alabama families and librarians with a broad array of political and religious backgrounds in a suit to stop policies approved by the library board that threaten to keep constitutionally protected books like “To Kill a Mockingbird” off of public library shelves.
Read the full complaint here.
What you can do
Libraries and library workers have shown up for our communities time and time again, and now it’s time for us to show up for them. They’re facing unprecedented challenges from every direction: the loss of federal funding; record levels of attempted book bans; threats of violence and harassment simply for doing their jobs.
Today is National Library Workers Day, when we recognize library professionals for their expertise and leadership skills in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning. You can help them even further by standing up for them and their work. Take action now—for our communities, for our future, for our libraries.
Contact Congress: Call or email your representatives in Washington and tell them to protect IMLS, libraries, librarians, and library workers.
Become an ALA supporter: Help power our work for libraries everywhere.
Spread the word: Use our social media graphics and sample social posts to help get the word out.
Visit our Take Action page for more ways to make your voice heard.
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