1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Federally funded library programs fuel programs like job-seeker workshops, veterans assistance resources, home delivery for homebound Americans, digital connectivity for rural communities, literacy programs, and so much more. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding supports libraries of all types through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and its grant programs, including direct-to-state grants. I’m counting on you to include at least $212 million in funding for LSTA (through IMLS). The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program supports school libraries through the Department of Education (ED), and this year, I hope you will support at least $30 million in funding for IAL (through ED). Without funding authorized at least at these basic levels, libraries will immediately feel the negative effects, from digital tools being shuttered to staff being cut. Library funding is a meager 0.003% of the federal budget, and even at that low amount, these programs do a huge amount of work to support communities like mine. We can’t afford to have them trimmed any further and leave your constituents behind in Missouri. I’m counting on you to make sure that Missouri’s libraries do not suffer unwarranted budget slashing in this year’s budget. Make sure to include at least these amounts of funding in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies bills that will come up this month.