Don’t Close the Book on Libraries—Reinvent Them

As debate over the size and scope of government intensifies, one of the most beloved and vital services in our communities—public libraries—is at risk. Libraries are not just places to borrow books; they are essential hubs for civic engagement, education, and public equity. They are also extremely popular, and some people might be surprised to know that there are more public libraries in America than there are McDonald’s. Yet despite their importance, popularity, and ubiquity, they face constant funding battles that jeopardize their future. 

National Library Week—a time meant to celebrate these vital institutions—often feels like a reminder of how far we have to go to ensure libraries can continue to thrive. In the library profession, it’s not unusual to kick off the week with enthusiasm, only to finish it feeling drained and underappreciated. Librarians love their work, but often carry it out under the weight of unstable funding and culture wars that seem more concerned with ideology than with the people we serve. As a former librarian I choose hope over experience, and opt for staunch optimism about the future of libraries in the face of threats. Why? Because libraries are good at what they do and people need them. 

The political backdrop for this year’s celebration is, admittedly, bleak. In March, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency overseeing federal funding for American libraries. The newly installed IMLS director Keith Sonderling wasted no time in aligning the organization with the Trump administration’s vision, prioritizing political loyalty over long-standing professional values like intellectual freedom, personal choice, and equitable and inclusive opportunities for learning. 

Following this shift in priority, the Department of Government Efficiency moved quickly to cancel existing grants and place IMLS staff on leave. This is legally questionable, and state attorneys general and the American Library Association have sued to free the funds, but the status of current funding and operations is uncertain. This would be bad enough, but it gets worse as the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), which enables all federal funding for libraries, is due to be reauthorized later this year. There’s a real risk that it could lapse completely or be rewritten to favor a narrow political agenda, leaving libraries even more vulnerable to budget cuts and limitations. 

It could upend our current understanding of federal support for public libraries. And therein, amid what might be the worst National Library Week in history, lies the kernel of hope. Librarians and their supporters shouldn’t accept defeat. It’s a troubling moment, but there’s an opportunity to galvanize support and envision a better future for libraries. 

Rewriting the Blueprint for Libraries

How can we reimagine libraries for the future, and what kind of support do they need to serve everyone? We need to rewrite the blueprint—one that goes beyond defending the status quo. Libraries are essential for fostering lifelong learning, connecting communities, and providing critical services at the most local of levels. But to continue fulfilling this rule, we must reshape the way libraries are funded and supported at the federal level, strengthening the substantial yet inconsistent foundation that state and local funds currently provide.

Rewriting the script means acknowledging that parts of the current formula may be outmoded. It wouldn’t be the first time: Congress created the IMLS in 1996 to prioritize the technological needs of libraries after years of focusing funds on facilities and construction. That was an inflection point, and Congress met the moment. Past reauthorizations of MLSA included improvements to the legislation while preserving the flexibility of existing grants to states. But the next should go further—targeting emerging practices to support lifelong learning, benefits navigation, and digital literacy through innovative pilots, a robust learning agenda, and increased evaluation to better understand and replicate what works in libraries.

Consider the current landscape: Civic distrust and social disconnection are on the rise. Families with young children face high costs with limited public support. Education needs are evolving across all ages, with major reskilling likely required as work evolves. Meanwhile, rural and under-resourced communities often lack the amenities and opportunities common in wealthier areas. 

Focusing on the impact of libraries to families alone is illuminating. As one mother in the New Practice Lab’s Thriving Family study shared: “There are public parks and a library in my community and we are very grateful that they exist. I love going to the library and taking my daughters to the activities that they always create for children.” Public libraries came up again and again as a vital community lifeline, with some families visiting multiple times a week or attending specific community activities. For parents trying to stretch every dollar while still creating joyful memories, libraries offer something rare: free access to learning, connection, and support. Especially for families in economically vulnerable situations, they’re indispensable. And across the political spectrum, Americans aren’t asking for less support—they’re demanding more.

Libraries do a lot, and could do even more if adequately resourced. It’s time to craft a new federal agenda for libraries that would balance the needs of local communities with the power of national support. It must prioritize flexibility, while holding libraries accountable for measuring their impact on the people they serve. By building a consensus around a revamped library system, we can ensure that public libraries continue to be places of empowerment, civic pride, and opportunity, wherever they exist.

A Need for Bold Action

Too often, libraries exist in a scarcity mindset, forced to operate on limited resources while the expectations for services continually expand. The pandemic showed us what libraries can do when better resourced: They offered crucial digital access, served as emergency hubs, and provided a safe, welcoming space for those in need. But this influx of additional federal funding was temporary. Without sustained investment, especially in rural and under-resourced communities, many libraries remain subject to political whims and state and local budget shortfalls.

This is where the politics of plenty can drive real change. People are tired of a government that feels inefficient—projects stall, nothing gets built, and visible impact is rare. We must champion investments in services that work and are woven into daily life. Libraries are one of the best examples. Ironically, they’re targeted by proponents of government efficiency, despite offering impressive returns on investment. IMLS delivers library and museum services directly to states and localities, with just 7 percent of its entire budget going to administrative costs like staff salary. The agency’s total funding represents only .0046 percent of the annual federal budget—for scale, for every dollar the IMLS received in 2024, the Department of Defense received $3,000. No one is arguing for parity—military members, veterans, and their families use libraries too—but continued disinvestment in public-facing services comes with a steep price.  

Libraries should not be seen as an afterthought among our nation’s domestic priorities. Well-funded public libraries are not a function of “big government” or “small government.” They represent good government, one that supports the institutions we rely on to strengthen our democracy and ensure equitable access for all.

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