President Donald Trump’s proposed budget calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. While many have never heard of IMLS, we experience its benefits through our local libraries every day.
Per capita, Whitman County Rural Library District — of which I’m director — is one of the top recipients of IMLS grants in Washington State. IMLS funding supports early literacy efforts, downloadable e-books and audio books, technology classes for children and adults (from Lego Mindstorms and Kids Coding Camps to software and hardware instruction for adults and seniors), technology equipment and telecommunication upgrades, the Rural Heritage online collection, services to the blind and physically handicapped, staff and board training and others.
Pick your favorite library service and IMLS likely played a hand in it. And, even if you don’t use the library, your family, friends and neighbors probably do. Last year attendance at Whitman County Library classes and programs reached an all-time high of 39,000, traditional checkouts were steady at 121,000 and use of e-books and other online resources topped 43,000. That’s strong usage for a library district of just 15,000 people.
You won’t see a better return on your investment than tax support for libraries. Whitman County Library spends a relatively small amount to effectively educate and support people in every age group and from every walk of life. IMLS funds stretch our local dollars, insuring us access to reliable information and innovative services, resources that are taken for granted and easily afforded by our urban counterparts.
If local library service is important to readers, I encourage them to call our U.S. representative, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, at (509) 353-2374 or in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-2006. Local libraries can also provide contact information for President Trump, our state’s U.S. senators or other members of Congress who represent us all.
Kristie Kirkpatrick
Colfax
