President Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 threatens to eliminate funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which could devastate libraries in North Carolina and across the nation. This federal agency provides grants based on state population to support library programs and museums, and without it, key statewide services could disappear starting October 1st.

The institute, established in 1996, has built on over five decades of similar federal support. In North Carolina, this funding fuels services like the NC Cardinal shared catalog for borrowing books across libraries, digital literacy training, and the NC Kids Digital Library. Local spots in Charlotte, such as the Mint Museum and Discovery Place, have also received direct grants.

Advocates with the American Library Association are sounding the alarm, warning that these cuts would gut essential community services that millions rely on daily. Libraries play a crucial role in job searches, education, and access to information. With Trumps previous executive order to shut down the institute blocked by a lawsuit from library groups just last month, the fight now shifts to Congress, where leaders hold the real purse strings.

North Carolina library advocates feel optimistic about bipartisan backing, as both parties recognize the value of public libraries in every district. With libraries serving as community lifelines, expect heavy lobbying to keep this funding alive as Congress weighs in.

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