Happy National Library Week ?
In the week that we traditionally highlight and celebrate libraries, the news could not be worse.
In mid March, there was an executive order to dismantle the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) , and a new acting director appointed. On March 31, all IMLS staff were put administrative leave, all email addresses closed, and all grants and contracts suspended. ALA statement
These cuts will ripple through the country in a lot of different ways, as each library and each state is funded differently. Libraries in more affluent areas may be able to continue most services, but rural areas and poorer states will be hit hard. According to the Clarion Ledger, Mississippi has already disconinuted Hoopla, the service they use for ebooks and audiobooks and other content. According to the Augusta Free Press, 16% of the Library of Virginia’s budget came from IMLS grants, and was used to support rural public and school libraries. 25-20 positions were also funded by the IMLS. So, libraries everywhere are scrambling to assess what services they need to cut and are in a holding pattern to see what pieces are left to pick up.
I would not be surprised if this is part is another ploy to force libraries to give up their traditional independence and support for freedom of information to become propaganda in exchange for the ability to continue some services, or to extract pledges to not purchase “DEI” materials, whatever those are.
The Trump administration has ordered K-12 schools to certify that they have no “DEI” programs or lose federal funding. Again, that will hit rural and/or impoverished school systems harder. New York has said they will not comply, stating that they do not believe the federal government has the authority, and that there are no federal or state laws that state the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are illegal. Virginia State Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson said Virginia is reviewing all federal guidelines to ensure compliance. With a Trump loving governor, I expected no disagreement with this order here. Kudos to New York, and any other state that refuses to obey in advance.
Meanwhile, censorship continues at military installations. Not content to merely censor K-12 Department of Defense Schools, Pete Hegseth has ordered 381 books removed without review from the US Naval Academy so that midshipmen (adults who have pledged 5 years of active service in exchange for full scholarship) do not have access to “DEI” materials. They are censoring material for ADULTS. Take a look at the list for yourself — you’ll see a lot of books about racism, history of racism, gender, women’s history.
I could write for hours about examples of censorship, but I’ll stop with one more egregious example — the National Park Service has erased Harriet Tubman from information provided on their website about the Underground Railroad, and has erased mentions of slavery across their websites. These changes will make their way into curriculum — and have long lasting effects. For example, I grew up in Virginia where the United Daughters of the Confederacy exerted great influence on southern textbooks. I was in my 50s before I realized that John Brown was an abolitionist — I was taught that he was a bad guy who wanted to blow up the government. (you could argue about his choice of tactics, but his goal was to end slavery, and that point was not stressed in the Virginia educational system). Seven years ago I was teaching a lesson to 7th graders about narrative and point of view using Rhiannon Giddens’ song Julie. Students and I were discussing the myth of the happy slave in an analysis of as to why the mistress in the song thought her enslaved servant, Julie, would want to stay and lie for her. Their twenty something teacher shared as part of the discussion that she grew up in a county close by, and the happy slave myth is what she was taught to believe — and not that long ago. The students were appropriately aghast about that.
Meanwhile, a bill to take away the tax exemption for the United Daughters of the Confederacy and other Confederate organizations passed the Virginia General Assembly but was amended by the Governor to postpone enactment until 2026 General Assembly reenacted the law (if they did). That was rejected, and is back on Governor Youngkin’s desk, where he will probably veto it. The white supremacist values of the Confederacy still live, and are driving the Republican Party right now.
The American Library Association just released its report on the State of American Libraries:
ALA is releasing graphics and other information presented in this report. You can follow them on your preferred social media and boost this information. You can also send your library an electronic postcard. These are easy and quick, but remember you can also write a letter to the editor, speak at a school board meeting, call your congresspeople, speak at a local civic organization (or arrange for a speaker).
DO SOMETHING. Big or small, but keep moving. You will actually feel better about the state of the world if you choose something within your ability and your sphere of influence and do it. It’s a way to avoid soul crushing despair.
Take a walk too. Spring is here. You may as well enjoy it.
Thank you Sandy.