IHLS continues to receive member questions about the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding, especially the Grants to States allotment that Illinois receives—approximately $5.7 million in State Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025). This funding is used for a variety of purposes that align with the Illinois State Library’s LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Long-Range Plan, including funding delivery services at the Illinois multitype library systems. 

What We Know Now

Please know that this is a rapidly developing issue. By the time you read this, you may already be aware that:

• The Illinois State Library (ISL) has directed IHLS and RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System) to submit our FY2026 plans with funding at the same level as FY2025. This is an encouraging sign.
• The ISL uses the previous Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) funding in the current State FY.  The ISL has received a portion of the IMLS FFY2025 Grants to States allotment; this is funding that will be used in the State FY2026.
• Congress will need to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) in FFY2026 that funds the IMLS programs, inclusive of the Grants to States program. In addition, the FFY2026 budget must include financial support so that IMLS can operate as an agency. 
• In the lawsuit ALA v. Sonderling, the judge granted a temporary restraining order.
• The federal budget proposal aims to zero out the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• In a lawsuit brought by 21 states' attorneys general, a district court judge has issued an injunction on the March 14 Executive Order.

Additional News & Resources

• To learn more, you may wish to check out this recent Chicago Tribune article about library materials delivery.
• And to learn how you can advocate for the continuation of IMLS through the reauthorization of the MLSA and the Federal FY2026 budget, check out our IMLS Advocacy Resource Guide