There’s good news for Wyoming libraries in the FY18 federal omnibus spending bill that was recently approved by Congress and signed by President Trump. The bill included a significant increase in funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the source of federal funding for the nation’s museums, libraries, and library development agencies, such as the Wyoming State Library.
In Wyoming, IMLS funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) supports statewide projects such as WYLDCAT, interlibrary loan, e-content, databases, training, and support of the Wyoming’s 13 state institution libraries. In past years, Wyoming has received approximately $900,000 annually in support of these projects that help improve library services for every resident of Wyoming, down to those in the smallest communities.
President Trump’s initial FY18 budget proposal called for elimination of the IMLS. Through concerted advocacy efforts, the library community was able to make the case for continued federal support of libraries.
The President’s FY19 proposal again calls for IMLS to be eliminated. Congress is expected to take up this measure in the near future. Local and national groups, including the Wyoming Library Association, will be watching this legislation as it progresses and issuing calls for advocates to again tell the story of libraries and their importance.
The State Library administers IMLS funding for Wyoming. For more details on the projects that federal funds support in this state, see library.wyo.gov/about/lsta.
Questions about LSTA funding in Wyoming? Contact State Librarian Jamie Markus at jamie.markus@wyo.gov or (307) 777-5914.