New York Libraries Highlight What’s at Stake in the Face of Federal Cuts

Public libraries in New York state are preparing for the impact of funding cuts by the Trump administration, after a March 2025 executive order that called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS is the federal agency that supports libraries, archives, and museums across all 50 states and US territories.

Every state distributes the funding it receives from the IMLS differently, but New York puts these funds into the New York State Library located in Albany.  As part of the state’s Education Department, the library agency then distributes these funds to each library system throughout New York state.

However, Ivy Gocker, Director of the Woodstock Public Library District said that if the IMLS were to go away, so too would the New York State Library agency and grant programs available to library systems across New York’s 62 counties.

Gocker is particularly concerned about the potential elimination of the Division of Library Development construction grants if the IMLS is defunded. The Woodstock Library has just expanded into a brand new 12,000 square foot space that was partially funded by a capital campaign beginning in 2022 and library construction grants provided by New York State Library.

Now, the Woodstock Library faces a nearly $300,000 deficit that they are relying on the community to help fill.

“The state library construction aid program for this year will move ahead as planned and the Mid-Hudson system will get their allotment as expected,” said Gocker. “But, is there going to be a different approach next year? Is it going to be written out of the budget entirely? So this is where several years of uncertainty start to stack up on top of each other, even if we’re somewhat safe for now.”

Grace Riario, Executive Director of the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) talked about how elimination of federal funding would also limit state libraries’ access to braille books and the federally paid employees who manage the state’s Talking Book and Braille Library collection.

“If you have a child or you have an elderly parent, or somebody just had a car accident, the loss of having the ability to walk in a library and pick up whatever you want is very impactful,” said Riario. “So those are going to be the first people that are going to feel it. And of course, they’re the people that society doesn’t see so much.”

US District Judge Richard Leon had previously agreed to halt the Trump administration in cutting IMLS funding in May 2025 after a lawsuit brought forward by the American Library Association (ALA). One month later, he reversed his decision.  Now, the IMLS could be one of 7 federal agencies that manage libraries, museum curation, and historical monuments across the country that is at risk of being eliminated on account of “reducing the federal bureaucracy.”

Jen Park, Government Relations Specialist of the Ramapo Catskill Library System is pushing back on the narrative that public libraries are an unprofitable community service, especially in rural areas.

“In our area, for every dollar that is invested into libraries, the return on investment is $7,” said Park. “You’re not going to get that anywhere else. We are doing work that is providing so much back into the livelihood and the infrastructure of the state.”

Apart from simply providing a knowledge base for rural areas, Park also emphasizes the sheer amount of services and goods that libraries have to offer. RCLS runs VetNow, which provides veterans with free resume building and professional career counseling, but Park also mentioned libraries in their system and across the state that provide technological advice, home improvement tools, even a baking pan selection to anyone who walks through the library doors.

“There’s so much that we do that people don’t know,” said Park. “And once these things are lost, they’re lost.”

Image: Shelves at the Woodstock Public Library District. (Credit: Woodstock Public Library District Facebook)