RICHMOND — Rural libraries are some of the most at risk of closing in the Commonwealth if they lose federal funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to begin dismantling the federal agency. Last week, all staff at the service were put on administrative leave.
The agency sent nearly $9.8 million to libraries in the Commonwealth this past year.
Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association, said rural libraries could be especially threatened by cuts.
“When we’re looking at our small and rural communities,” she said, “if we see a decrease in federal funding to the point of where it’s a third or half of their budget, those libraries will have to make difficult decisions. And they may have to close.”
Six other agencies were also listed in Trump’s executive order, which he said was meant to shrink government bureaucracy.
The institute’s budget of $304 million represents less than 0.1% of the federal budget, or 89 cents per American each year.
Half a dozen universities in the Commonwealth received library service grants from the IMLS in 2024, totaling more than $2.3 million. Hohl said libraries also provide services to help entrepreneurs start businesses and homebound services to senior citizens.
“Libraries provide so much to our communities,” she said. “And the IMLS funding — it is essential library services that those grants help support. IMLS also does policy-making and research. Every community across this country benefits from having library access.”
The Library of Virginia receives about 16% of its funds from the service, totaling nearly $4.3 million.
