Maine State Library | Official Statement

On March 14th, President Trump issued an executive order calling for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency for libraries. This action would pull federal funding for libraries.

The Maine Library Association Executive Board strongly disagrees with this action. This funding cut would negatively impact all Mainers who rely on library services. Federal funding is critical for the Maine State Library to provide important statewide resources and services. In FY24, the last fully appropriated grant, Maine State Library received $1,526,754 in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds. Each state receives federal funding through LSTA, and the overall ask for FY25 is $214 million. This would include roughly the same amount for Maine as in FY24.

Federal funding in Maine goes toward:

Free gigabit internet to 243 public libraries through the Maine School and Library Network
Supporting interlibrary loan service to over 260 libraries statewide, ensuring Maine residents have access to more than 10 million items
Providing e-books and e-audiobooks to all Mainers through CloudLibrary
Providing those who are blind or visually impaired with large print and recorded books mailed to the patron for free
Delivering professional development training to library staff through consultations and workshops
Support for online databases offered through the Digital Maine Library
Providing the Books by Mail program to homebound individuals and Maine residents who live in rural areas without a local library
Support for Maine InfoNet for technology support and training for shared library catalogs statewide, building a strong connection for resource sharing statewide, and Digital Maine Library tech support and maintenance

While most library funding in Maine comes from local sources, federal dollars are crucial in building equity by providing resources to libraries with smaller budgets. Federal funding for libraries accounts for just 0.003% of the overall federal budget, and this incredibly modest investment ensures that all communities have access to essential library services regardless of local funding capacity. Libraries are open to all, and services are well used. In 2023, there were over one million visits to public libraries in Maine.

MLA urges President Trump to reconsider this decision. We thank the Maine Congressional Delegation, who have historically supported Maine libraries and the IMLS. We now call on them to defend their Congressional authority as the only entity to make funding decisions about this agency, and to continue authorizing appropriations to support Grants to States funding.

We ask our members and all Maine residents who care about libraries to ask our Congressional delegation to oppose the defunding of IMLS and specifically the LSTA Grants to States program. For more information, see the American Library Association’s Show up for Libraries campaign.

The Maine Library Association Executive Board | Maine, March 18, 2025

Impacts on EPL’s Library Services

While EPL is predominantly funded locally through the City of Ellsworth, cuts to the state library will directly impact our library services, including state van delivery (inter-library loans), online resources and collections, and staff training/support to name a few.

These cuts are wider than it might appear at first glance. Check out tile 5 of this post to find out which 7 departments this Executive Order targets specifically:

Ways to Support EPL & Other Libraries

Please consider supporting us NOW! We have listed different options in the tiles:
You can use this website to contact your local representative:

https://action.everylibrary.org/emailreps
If you prefer not to use external platforms like that, please email or call your representative to express your support for federal funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and share the contacts and information amongst your family and friends! THANK YOU!

You can check out IMLS’s 2022–2026 Strategic Plan here: https://www.imls.gov/…/imls-strategic-plan-2022-2026.pdf)

Nicole Grohoski, Senate District 7: In Hancock County: Bar Harbor; Blue Hill; Brooklin; Brooksville; Castine; Cranberry Isles; Deer Isle; Ellsworth; Frenchboro; Lamoine; Marshall Island UT; Mount Desert; Orland; Penobscot; Sedgwick; Southwest Harbor; Stonington; Surry; Swan’s Island; Tremont; Trenton; and Verona Island. Nicole.Grohoski@legislature.maine.gov | (207) 287-1515

Marianne Moore, Senate District 6: In Hancock County: Amherst; Aurora; Central Hancock UT; East Hancock UT; Eastbrook; Franklin; Gouldsboro; Great Pond; Hancock; Mariaville; Northwest Hancock UT; Osborn; Sorrento; Sullivan; Waltham; and Winter Harbor. Marianne.Moore@legislature.maine.gov | (207) 287-1505

Billy Bob Faulkingham, House District 12: which includes the towns of Franklin, Gouldsboro, Hancock, Steuben, Sorrento, Sullivan, and Winter Harbor. William.Faulkingham@legislature.maine.gov | (207) 287-1440

Russell White, House District 13: Representing: Ellsworth, Fletchers Landing Township, Waltham, and Central Hancock. Russell.White@legislature.maine.gov | (207) 287-1440

Gary Friedmann, District 14: Representing: Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Lamoine and Mount Desert. Gary.Friedmann@legislature.maine.gov

Nina Millikin, House District 16: Representing: Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, Surry and Trenton. Nina.Milliken@legislature.maine.gov
You can share your positive impact stories about library services and how cuts would affect you personally here to support advocacy efforts for libraries on the whole:

https://airtable.com/app9Th502PQsZ…/paglDQdgAlJbHvKVR/form
Talk to your friends or neighbors about the services your local library offers and that would be helpful to them to.
Donate money directly to your library of choice. If you want to support EPL financially you can safely do so here.
Or if you would like to volunteer your time and skills click here.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT