Federal Freeze Puts Mississippi Libraries at Risk

A Trump-era executive order aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy has left Mississippi libraries in a bind. Signed on March 14, the order drastically limited operations at several federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the main source of federal funding for libraries and museums across the U.S. The IMLS, a small agency with about 70 employees, awarded over $266 million in grants last year. Mississippi received $2.1 million to support tech upgrades, internet access, interlibrary loan programs, Talking Book Services for visually impaired readers, and childhood literacy initiatives like summer reading. While most local libraries are funded by city, county, and state taxes, federal grants often fill crucial gaps—especially for one-time improvements and accessibility programs. Due to staffing disruptions at IMLS, grant processing and fund disbursement have stalled. Advocacy group Every Library warned, “This is not merely a bureaucratic activity; it is a crisis for the library, museum, and archive communities across the United States.” This pause in federal support could delay key programs and leave Mississippi libraries struggling to maintain essential services.

Sources:

• Institute of Museum and Library Services

• IMLS Mississippi State Profile

• EveryLibrary – Federal Library Funding Is in Danger

• American Library Association – Library Funding

• Executive Order 13781 – Federal Register