Libraries, which inspire, inform and welcome all, are now expendable

• Opinion

April 12, 2025 at 9:00 am Updated April 12, 2025 at 9:01 am

By Tom Fay

Special to The Seattle Times

Recent actions by the Trump administration are threatening the future of libraries in Seattle and other Washington communities.

On March 14, a White House Executive Order was issued to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the only federal agency that provides funding to libraries.

Keith Sonderling was then appointed acting director of the IMLS and, just days after being sworn in, placed all institute staff on administrative leave and issued grant termination notices to state libraries in Washington and elsewhere, effective April 1. Unfortunately, this was not a cruel April Fools’ joke, but a harsh new reality — the U.S. government is no longer investing in America’s libraries.

Read more: Libraries, which inspire, inform and welcome all, are now expendable

Source Links: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/libraries-are-more-than-just-books/