From: Gavin Baker <gbaker@alawash.org>
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
To: James Lowry <James.Lowry@qc.cuny.edu>
Subject: Elimination of IMLS funding for LIS research

Dear Director Lowry,

I’m reaching out from the American Library Association’s Public Policy & Advocacy office. On March 14, President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting America’s libraries, and a primary funder of LIS faculty and research. If allowed to stand, this will result in the loss of all IMLS funding for library schools and scholarship.

We urge your faculty, staff, and students to join with ALA in opposing this order and advocating for continued funding for IMLS. Here are some initial steps:

• Please take and share ALA’s action alert and encourage your colleagues to contact their Congressmembers in support of IMLS.

• Please like/share the action alert on social media: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

• Additional resources:

• ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services
• ALA warns new IMLS acting director not to cut programs required by law
• FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS
• How ALA is responding to the executive order
• Sign up for future action alerts from ALA

• Share this information with your university’s government relations office

Thank you,

Gavin Baker

Deputy Director, Public Policy & Government Relations 

American Library Association

gbaker@alawash.org

(202) 403-8209