Hearing Set in Lawsuit to Block Trump’s Destruction of IMLS
DOJ Lawyers will argue their case to shutter the IMLS before a judge that has already once blocked a sweeping attempt by the Trump administration to gut federal funding.
In The News
‘Time is of the Essence’: ALA Sues Trump Administration to Save IMLS
The ALA suit comes just days after a coalition of state attorneys general filed a similar federal lawsuit in Rhode Island also seeking to stop the Trump administration’s dismantling of the IMLS.
ALA Releases Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024
George M. Johnson’s 'All Boys Aren’t Blue' and Maia Kobabe’s 'Gender Queer' took the top two spots on a list once again dominated by stories by and about LGBTQ+ persons and people of color.
‘A Difficult Time for Libraries’: ALA’s 2025 State of America’s Libraries Report Details Ongoing Censorship Threat
Released annually, the ALA's State of America's Libraries Report documents the achievements of America’s libraries and library workers, and outlines the challenges they face.
States Sue to Block Trump's Destruction of IMLS
The emergency action seeks to block the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle IMLS and several other agencies, and comes amid reports that the White House has fired members of the IMLS advisory board.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending April 4, 2025
Among the week's headlines: National Library Week kicks off on April 6; State legislators propose massive cuts to Ohio libraries; and Arkansas moves a step closer to dissolving its state library.
Four of the Big Five Publishers Sign Letter Urging Congress to Restore IMLS
Shuttering IMLS would be "an act of monumental neglect, violating the very foundation of America and what it stands for as a country," the publishers assert.
IMLS Advisory Board Iced Out as Acting Director Begins Slashing Grants to Libraries
In an April 3 letter, the IMLS's advisory body said it has not heard from acting director Keith Sonderling, even as sources report that Sonderling has informed multiple libraries that their grants have been terminated.
Trump Administration Puts IMLS Employees on Leave
Without staff to administer its programs, "it is likely that most grants will be terminated," noted library political action committee EveryLibrary, in a statement.
Editor's Note: March 31, 2025
In our latest progress report, we've set a tentative date for our first newsletter. And if you're Interested in contributing to Words & Money, we'd like to hear from you.
Smithsonian Secretary Addresses Trump Effort to Remake the Historic Institution
In a memo to staff, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said the Smithsonian will "remain committed to telling the multi-faceted stories of this country’s extraordinary heritage."
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending March 28
Among the week’s headlines: a bipartisan group of senators stands up for the IMLS; Iowa libraries look to get banned books back on the shelves after a major court victory; EveryLibrary helps a defunded Alabama library; and the Special Library Association is dissolving.
In New Executive Order, Trump Seeks to Remake the Smithsonian in his MAGA Image
In a chilling order, the administration accuses past administrations of pushing "a distorted narrative driven by ideology" and seeks to bar "exhibits or programs" deemed "inconsistent with Federal law and policy.”
South Carolina Library Patrons Sue Over LGBTQ Book Bans
The suit seeks to have the library's new collection policies declared unconstitutional.
Court Blocks Iowa Book Banning Law—Again
In a major win for freedom to read advocates, a federal judge has once again temporarily blocked the book banning provisions of Iowa law SF 496.
Two Lawsuits Challenge Book Bans in Minnesota School District
The suits accuse the St. Francis School Board of “abandoning its duty to oversee the education of young people in service of a partisan, political orthodoxy.”