According to an article in Cosmopolitan Magazine, the Institute for Museum and Library Services accounted for 0.00006 percent of the federal budget in 2016. Yet this institution provides crucial infrastructure to Wisconsin libraries, along with funding to pursue important projects to improve access to early literacy programs, help for job seekers, outreach to teens, and more.
As you've probably already heard, the IMLS is in danger of being eliminated. The simplest way to make a difference is to contact your representatives in Congress, but there are other things to do, too. Here are a couple of resources:
- YALSA's list includes writing letters to editors, meeting with Representatives when they are home on recess April 8-23, and encouraging friends and family to contact Representatives, among other things. Look there for sample letters and more!
- ALSC's list includes many of the same things, but also encourages sharing your library's story with the #SaveIMLS hashtag on social media and inviting your Representative to visit your library when they are back in the area for recess.
- And Hafuboti (blogger, librarian, and creative artist who made the Libraries Are for Everyone artwork to share with everyone) is encouraging folks to make #SaveIMLS short Book-Drop videos (like a mic-drop, but with a book).
Varying levels of commitment and time needed for these, but maybe you'll pick one or two!
Labels: advocacy, ALSC, IMLS, YALSA
