Oregon has stepped to the forefront of a legal challenge against a recent executive action that could potentially cripple vital services provided by libraries and museums. In an aggressive pushback, the state, in concert with 19 others, filed for a temporary restraining order aiming to put a halt to the federal government's mandate, which sent the majority of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) staff on enforced leave as of last Monday. According to statements cited by the Oregon State Library, this bold move follows Executive Order 14238 that proposed to strip away certain functions of seven federal agencies, including IMLS.
With $2.6 million on the line— a sum that accounts for a quarter of the State Library of Oregon's yearly budget— the absence of IMLS could have severe financial repercussions. Oregon's State Librarian, Wendy Cornelisen, described the critical scenario. "I know that the impact of this action would cause IMLS to be unable to administer financial programs on which the State Library of Oregon relies and on which it expects to rely in the future, it will cause significant financial harm to the State of Oregon and hamper the State’s efforts to facilitate access to information through providing library services," Cornelisen told the Oregon State Library.
The suite of services under threat due to the funding freeze includes numerous state and regional programs like the Oregon Battle of the Books, digital heritage collections, and reference services that operate around the clock. These services collectively support not only the State Library but also extend to academic, public school, special libraries, and Tribal Nations throughout Oregon. Funds from IMLS predominantly come from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, which have been integral in supporting such programs since its enactment in 1996.
The current legal storm brews amidst a financial limbo as the State Library has yet to receive its Federal Fiscal Year 2025 award letter from IMLS. Without confirmation of the 2025 award, vital commitments for the next fiscal year remain precarious at best, impacting staff, services, contracts, and competitive grant cycles already underway. Despite Congress authorizing the IMLS funding through the continuing resolution HR 1968, which was passed into law on March 15, the future of these funds remains uncertain. The coalition, including Arizona, California, and New York among others, seeks judicial intervention in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, represented by their respective Departments of Justice.
