The message below is a synopsis and status update written by Maureen Amyot, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC):

On December 3, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced it had reinstated all federal grants which were terminated due to Executive Order 14238 signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. The goal of the executive order was to eliminate IMLS "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." 

The IMLS announcement followed the November 21st ruling by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell in favor of 21 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts. Judge McConnell determined that Executive Order 14238 exceeded presidential authority and violated laws governing agencies established by Congress. This ruling permanently blocks Executive Order 14238 and ensures that IMLS can continue delivering critical support and funding for libraries nationwide and prohibits any further attempts to dismantle the agency.

With these two major developments, the MBLC has started to rebuild its federal program.

The final week of the Friends of Snow Library’s Fall Lifetime Learning series features a new program on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., Documenting Our Great Country: ‘Two Roads’ (2024) and ‘Brighton Beach’ (1980). Directors Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein of Ace Pictures, Inc. will present two films that illustrate art’s power to bridge divisions and highlight immigrant communities coexisting in a shared uprootedness.

On March 14, 2025, the current Federal administration issued executive order 14238 which provided only enough federal funds to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to close its operation. As a result, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) prepared for this current fiscal year which began July 1st by eliminating various research databases in anticipation of financial uncertainty since prior to the executive order, the MBLC received $3.6 million from the IMLS to support statewide library services and grants to local libraries. In the ensuing months, several states, including Massachusetts, filed lawsuits to prevent shuttering IMLS and organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA) and EveryLibrary Action among others urged everyone to contact members of Congress to support federal funding for libraries. The good news is that on September 2nd, the House Appropriations released its version of the FY 2026 budget bill that includes $291.8 million for IMLS. In its version the Senate included $295 million for IMLS funding. This is a $3 million reduction from the previous year, FY2025, but it is still a significant increase and a reversal from the President’s budget which included $6 million to shutter the agency.  - Tavi Prugno, Director of Snow Library

Due to President Trump’s elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” research databases offered through Snow Library by the state board of library commissioners and the Mass. Library System will be significantly reduced. As of July 1, 2025, the following databases will no longer be available:

Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger returns to Snow Library on Thursday, April 17 to discuss “The Health of Our Democracy and the Rule of Law in 2025.” This Zoom-only Lifetime Learning presentation takes place from 1:30 to 3 p.m.