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The Impact of Executive Orders on Library Services

MBLC Programs Status

The following is the status of MBLC programs supported fully or in part by federal funding. Programs not supported by federal funding are not listed here.

Continuing with State or Other Funding

Commonwealth Catalog

  • Funding for this essential program, both software and support, has been moved into our state budget line for FY26.

Environmental Monitoring (Conserv)

  • Funding for this essential program has been moved into our state budget line for FY26.

E-Rate Support

  • Continuing this in progress project was deemed a priority as libraries look for ways to stretch their budgets. Funding for the consultant was moved into the state budget line for FY26.

Summer Reading with the Bruins

  • The Bruins have provided additional funding in support of this program for Summer 2025.

Continuing in part with State or Other Funding

Library eBooks and Audiobooks (LEA)

  • A grant to participating library networks reimbursing the platform fees for OverDrive will be fully funded out of state funding for FY26.
  • A grant to participating library networks for eContent will be funded at a reduced level out of state funding for FY26.

Statewide Databases

Suspended

Explore, Impact, and Inspire Grants

  • These grants have been suspended for FY26 due to the uncertain availability of federal LSTA funding.

Ongoing Education and Training Resources

  • United for Libraries
  • Webjunction
  • Perkins Access

Grant to Department of Corrections

  • This grant to prison libraries for education and collections was suspended due to the uncertain availability of federal LSTA funding.

Updated August 2025

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Legal Updates

The situation continues to change rapidly and on several fronts. Presidential Executive Orders are being challenged in court, other court cases are moving through the system, and other agency and legislative actions out of both Washington and Boston are numerous.

Federal Executive Actions

Court Cases

Congressional Action

  • Congressional Review Act Resolution against E-Rate funding of Hotspots
    • Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a resolution to prevent E-Rate funds from being used to fund lendable hotspots for schools and libraries, which was set to begin in E-Rate funding year 25 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
  • FY2026 White House/Congressional Budget Proposal
    • May 2, 2025 – IMLS budget is zero in this proposal.
    • May 22, 2025 – The budget bill passed the House, 215-214.

Other Federal Updates

  • Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 created funding through the Digital Equity Act (DEA) and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Massachusetts Updates

  • State Budget Progress
    • The Budget passed by the House contained level funding for MBLC line items; all amendments failed to pass.
    • The Budget passed by the Senate contained level funding for MBLC line items; one amendment increased line item 9401 (State Aid to Regional Libraries) by $500,000.
    • The conference committee of both House and Senate members will now merge the bills.

Updated August 2025

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On Friday, March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order intended to severely reduce funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services.

The IMLS describes its scope of impact as “the largest source of federal funding for libraries in the nation, directing population-based funding for all 50 states. This work enables libraries located in geographically and economically diverse areas to deliver essential services that make it possible for individuals and communities to flourish.” IMLS funding provides a significant portion of the budget of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). The MBLC provides statewide services to libraries, in which Wayland Free Public Library benefits from enormously. 

The MBLC receives $3.6 million from IMLS’ Grants to States Program. The MBLC uses federal IMLS funds to provide statewide library services for everyone. Cuts to the services funded by IMLS will be drastic to libraries, especially libraries in smaller communities.

The cut in funding will impact libraries in Massachusetts.

With cuts to IMLS funding, all libraries in our state, including Wayland Free Public Library, will lose a significant tool for maintaining, delivering and developing innovative services for its patrons.

Current services that could be affected include:

  • Library eBooks and eAudiobooks – The MBLC uses federal funds to support statewide library electronic books and audiobooks. The cut in federal funding will mean fewer ebooks and audiobooks, with less choices and longer wait times.
  • Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat) – ComCat allows Wayland patrons to borrow books from libraries outside of the Minuteman Library Network. Statewide, people borrow nearly 7,500 items through ComCat each month.
  • Databases – The statewide database programs provides access to research databases that some communities could not afford to purchase on its own.
  • Summer Reading – The MBLC uses federal funds to support Summer Reading Program throughout Massachusetts.

Learn More

What You Can Do

Updated May 2025

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