Tell Congress to Fund Libraries Before It’s Too Late

Libraries across the country are having their funding slashed—with more planned in the future. It’s time to let Washington know that we’re fed up with it.

Each year, the American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office works with congressional staff to produce and circulate “Dear Appropriator” letters in Congress, addressed to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting funding amounts for federal programs that support libraries. The best way for any Congressmember to demonstrate their commitment to library funding is to sign on to these letters in support of libraries. These letters close tomorrow, May 20, so we need to act now and urge them to sign.

As the courts deliberate on the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to eliminate the only federal agency dedicated to libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), it’s critical that Congress includes funding for this agency through the Library Services and Technology Act in the FY26 budget—otherwise, IMLS won’t be able to operate, regardless of the outcome of the court cases. For school libraries, Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) provides needed resources for addressing literacy. Similarly, while courts debate the future of the Department of Education, it’s vital that Congress continue funding for IAL.

Tell your Congressmembers to support our nation’s libraries and sign on to the “Dear Appropriator” letters before it’s too late!

This year, the “Dear Appropriator” letters are led by Senator Jack Reed (RI), Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02). Did your representatives in Washington sign on to support library funding in FY2026 or in previous fiscal years? Find out here.

Ohioans speak out for library funding

Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library (CML) has announced that it’s launching a postcard-writing campaign to share customer impact stories with state legislators. This campaign comes as the Ohio Senate is considering the state budget proposal, recently passed by the Ohio House, that would end the funding mechanism for Ohio’s public libraries and replace it with a line item.

“By shifting [public libraries’] funding source to a line-item appropriation as proposed in the House budget, uncertainty and stagnation are brought to communities that rely on their public library,” said CML CEO Lauren Hagan in prepared remarks to the Ohio Senate Education Committee on May 12. “Basic state funding for public libraries recognizes our unparalleled impact on all members of our community and ensures we can continue to meet the needs of Ohioans without interruption or compromise.”

Ohio library lovers of all ages can stop in any of CML’s 23 locations throughout the remainder of May and fill out a postcard that encourages them to “write or draw a picture of what the library means” to them. CML leaders will collect the completed postcards and deliver them to Ohio Senate President Rob McColley in early June.