Take Action This Week: School Library Appreciation Month
IMLS Funding Cuts and Their Impact on CPS Libraries
We are writing to share the difficult news that recent federal budget decisions have resulted in significant cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which directly impact our work and the resources we are able to provide across Chicago Public Schools.
One of the major impacts is to the Per Capita Grant, which awarded CPS $78,665.00 for use in the 2025–2026 school year. While we will still allocate this funding toward districtwide services, including digital databases and ebooks that benefit students and teachers throughout CPS, this cut represents a substantial loss that may affect the breadth of our offerings in future years.
Additionally, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program—which has played a crucial role in supporting librarian professional development and recruitment—is also affected by these cuts.
📢 Raise Awareness Librarians and library administrators must help their governing bodies understand what’s at stake. Whether you work in a public, school, academic, or special library, it is crucial that trustees, school board members, or other decision-makers recognize the vital role IMLS funding plays in sustaining library services and access to resources in our communities. Please consider speaking to your principal, LSC, and/or school community about the IMLS funding cuts.
🗣️ Make Your Voices Heard We must come together as a community to urge Congress to restore this critical funding. Your voice—combined with others from the American Library Association and Illinois Library Association—can make a powerful impact. Please take a moment to reach out to your lawmakers and share your perspective. You can find your congressional representatives here:
🔗 Find Your Members in the U.S. Congress | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
