Missouri received millions in library funds from agency on Trump administration chopping block
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump aims to cut federal funding to the Institute of Museums and Library Services, which could lead to the loss of millions of dollars for Missouri libraries.
Trump signed the order last week. The institute is the only federal agency that funds libraries and museums across the U.S.
The executive order states that the agency should be winnowed down to the minimum allowed under the law. For fiscal 2025, Missouri received about $3.4 million in Library Services and Technology Act Grants.
Funding includes $31,060 for websites for small libraries with no or poor-quality websites, $86,069 in funding for library staff and administration skills training and $45,000 for an Educational Presenter Grant which provides funds to allows local schools and public libraries to collaborate.
Executive Director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library Robin Westphal fears the potential cuts are sending a message.
"Attack or a signaling that libraries are not seen as important or relevant anymore," Westphal said.
However, Westphal said she is concerned how the order could impact all 160 library districts in the state of Missouri. She said the Daniel Boone Regional Library mostly relies on funds from the State Library but it does apply for federal grants to support self-check outs and library lockers.
"Creative aging project as well as our excel adult high school program which allows adults to get an actual high school diploma through the library," Westphal said.
Rural libraries rely on the Courier Service which allows bigger libraries to lend or borrow books to small libraries.
More than $520,000 was proposed for that program for this fiscal year.
Federal funding is also a big source for technology for rural communities, which Westphal fears could hurt be impacted.
"Federal funds is what they use to buy their technology, its the only way they would be able to have public access computers, its the only way they would have a library summer program," Westphal said. "Their tax base is not growing, they live in an area where new houses are not being built, there are not businesses that are developing in those areas,"
Erica Koons goes to the Columbia library from time to time and said it is important for educational purposes.
"Libraries are top priority you know come in and do the reading and programs I think we need our libraries," Koons said.
The Missouri River Regional Library said in a Facebook post Tuesday that "federal funds have been used to support some important programming (past and present), including the Reading Buddies program, school literacy nights, author visits, summer reading prizes and staff training opportunities.
"MRRL has also used federal funds to apply for grants to purchase desktop computers, STEAM kits, laptops, and anytime lockers. While an elimination of this agency would impact MRRL, the financial strain it would cause for Missouri’s rural and smaller libraries would be especially devastating,"
MRRL stated in the post that the executive order has caused a great deal of concern and uncertainty for libraries and their supporters. The library says it is committed to providing the best materials, programs and services to Cole and Osage counties.
