Libraries may see cuts in funding

MARENGO — As President Donald Trump’s reduction of federal bureaucracy continues, the State Library of Iowa is looking at what it can fund without money from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“We do know there are going to be some federal cuts,” Jackie Jordan, Marengo Public Library director, said last week, though she’s not sure exactly which programs and services will be cut.

Until details are final, the library will operate as usual, Jordan said.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services was one of the federal agencies on President Donald Trump’s chopping block, but a federal court granted a temporary restraining order because of a lawsuit filed by the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, represented by Democracy Forward and Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, according to the ALA.

The budget proposed by the White House would eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services in fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1, 2025, ALA said.

According to the State of Iowa Library, the Library Services and Technology Act is the only federal program providing funds exclusively for libraries.

The State Library of Iowa relies on Library Services and Technology Act funding via the Grants to States program from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to deliver statewide library development initiates and services to Iowa libraries. It received $2.1 million in fiscal year 2022.

Iowa has 544 public libraries in Iowa — the fourth most in the nation, according to the State Library of Iowa. About 99% of Iowans are served by a public library, and 75% of those libraries (407) are in communities of fewer than 2,499 people.

The State Library of Iowa has attempted to prioritized programs in preparation for the budget cuts, said Jordan.

Bridges, the online sharing library that allows people to read books and magazines on digital devices, is something the State wants to keep. Marengo library pays a fee, but the State library pays for management of the program, Jordan said.

Iowa Shares delivery — a twice-weekly delivery service by which every public library in Iowa for shares materials — is also a priority for the State of Iowa Library.

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Before the delivery service was implemented, inter-library lending was done via the U.S. Postal Service, said Jordan.

Marengo library transported almost 40 books using the delivery service last year, said Jordan.

The State Library of Iowa also hopes to keep State of Iowa Libraries Online, also known as SILO, a resource that shares services such as the Iowa Locator, the statewide union catalog used to locate library items, and the SILO Inter-library Loan System.

SILO also offers DNS hosting services to any public library with a high-speed internet connection.

Among the programs that aren’t a priority for the State Library of Iowa is the accreditation and standards program. Marengo is a tier three accredited library, the highest level of accreditation, said Jordan. It has to meet certain standards to be designated such.

There is a little funding associated with it, said Jordan, but she keeps the accreditation up as a sense of pride, proof that the library provides quality services despite its size.

“We have to stay relevant,” said Jordan, not become stagnant. Even if it brings no funding, Jordan plans to keep up the library’s accreditation.

The State’s summer reading resources were not prioritized by the State.

The State Library of Iowa provides a summer reading theme and supplies which many libraries use. Marengo creates its own program, using some items from the state program and some from other sources.

“We pick and choose,” said Jordan. The Marengo library doesn’t use its state money for that, she said.

The WhoFi program may be cut, said Jordan. “We use it to count our registered WiFi users.” At the end of each month, she can see how many unique users accessed the WiFi, how many were new users and how long they used it.

BrainFuse HelpNow, the online resource that helps with homework, tutoring and creating resumes, is also on the chopping block as are STEM To Go and Storytime kits.

The library has to do what it’s supposed to do, said Jordan, but she doesn’t know if she’ll have funding for it.

“We have to think outside the box,” Jordan said.

Summer reading

Regardless of what happens with the federal cuts, Marengo’s library will conduct its summer reading program next month.

“We had 88 kids sign up last year,” said Jordan. She hopes for more than 100 this year.

The theme for 2025 is Level Up, a reference to video game play.

Keystone Savings Bank will provide swag bags, and the Women, Infants and Children program is donating water bottles.

“We’re really trying to partner with … different groups,” said Jordan.

Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids, a private, nonprofit organization, that provides services to children and families challenged by social and psychological needs, will provide four summer reading programs.

“They started helping us at story time,” said Jordan. “They have an art expression program that they promote.”

Tanager will present The Artist Age 0-8 at the library June 12 at 10 a.m. and Wreck This Art at 10 a.m. June 19 for children 5-18 as well as two more programs in July.

Chalk the Walk and Amazing Shadows are programs the Marengo library will conduct itself. “That’s a fun one,” said Jordan. “Kids like to be outside.”

Jordan is excited for the magic show by Jonathan May June 23 at 10 a.m. The library has never had a magician for summer reading before, she said.

The Grout Museum will have a Bubble Festival in the Marengo City Park June 26 at 10 a.m., and Safe Haven animal shelter will bring cats to the library June 30 at 10:30 so children can read to them.

Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque will bring its sharks June 20. That program will be at the American Legion Hall at 10 a.m. Last year’s program with stingrays brought in more than 99 people, said Jordan, so she’s planned for a larger space this year.

The program is open to everyone, not just summer reading children, said Jordan.

People should be on time for all library programs, said Jordan. Arriving late disrupts the program, and the library will no longer allow late admittance.

“That’s something we’ve put on all the calendars,” said Jordan.

A complete list of programs is available at the library. Students can sign up for the summer reading program there and pick up a Level Up booklet to record their reading minutes.

The summer reading program asks children to read at least 20 minutes a day, or 140 minutes a week.

Each week, children earn prizes based on how many minutes they read. Their names will be entered in a grand prize drawing every time they reach 140 minutes in a week.

Four grand prizes will be awarded July 3.