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Hello reader!
On behalf of the Board of Library Trustees, we are sharing this special statement on funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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Statement of the Board of Library Trustees, Brookline Public Library
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As the duly constituted governing body of the Brookline Public Library, the Board of Trustees expresses its revulsion and disgust at the Executive Order issued by Donald J. Trump on March 14, 2025, purporting to eliminate or at least incapacitate the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Board notes that:
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1) The Institute is the only office in the federal government devoted to advancing the work of museums and libraries.
2) Museums and libraries are essential institutions in communities large and small.
3) The Institute supplies vital support, financial and otherwise, for the operation of museums and libraries.
4) Museums and libraries perform essential services for their communities, and for American society generally.
5) Reducing support for museums and libraries harms American education and leaves citizens less well-informed.
6) While the Public Library of Brookline’s municipal operating budget is distinct from these funds, the cuts to the IMLS directly affects funds to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Loss of funding to the MBLC directly affects the Brookline library’s access to statewide services such as the Commonwealth Catalog and research databases. As 60 % of the usage of these databases are by students, these cuts have a devastating effect on the health of our community.*
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The Board urges all citizens to take steps to protect the Institute, such as:
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1) Calling and writing your Senators and Representatives, and urging them to protect the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and to assure it adequate financial resources.
2) Contact local newspapers and media outlets to alert the public of the threat to the Institute presented by the order, and the damage to the community that would ensue if it is carried out.
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3) Urge friends and family members to contact their senators and representatives, as well as local media, to express their support for the Institute.
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