Golden Triangle libraries have started experiencing the first of what could be many losses following the shuttering of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a small independent federal agency that provides resources and funding to museums and libraries across the country.
The Columbus-Lowndes, Starkville-Oktibbeha and Tombigbee Regional public library systems announced Monday and Tuesday that access to the digital library service Hoopla, a streaming service for audiobooks and ebooks, will no longer be available. The service was previously made available through IMLS funding.
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System Director Erin Busbea said the loss of Hoopla has already been felt by many patrons.
“It’s so devastating that this is the first loss we’re seeing,” Busbea said. “People have been calling asking why their Hoopla isn’t working. I’ve had to tell people the funding was pulled. It just isn’t there.”
Local libraries receive a daily and monthly budget for Hoopla services. Busbea said that some mornings, as early as 9 a.m., patrons call because the daily budget has already been spent.
Priscilla Ivy, head librarian at Bryan Public Library in West Point which headquarters the Tombigbee system, said the service is particularly beneficial to people who cannot travel to their local library.
“We have seen a big rise in people who use the service,” Ivy said. “It’s a great concern of ours because there are people who are shut-ins who cannot get to the library as often or at all, and they depend on that service.”
This news comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 14 calling to eliminate IMLS along with six other small agencies “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” within seven days of the order’s signing.
Multiple national media outlets report that Monday the entire IMLS staff of about 70 employees was placed on administrative leave following a “brief meeting between DOGE staff and IMLS leadership.” The status of previously awarded grants and future grants is unclear.
IMLS distributes about $2.1 million to the Mississippi Library Commission in Jackson through the Grants to States program. MLC then administers these funds to individual library systems as Library Services and Technology Act grants, which vary in availability each year.
Busbea said in the past, CLPLS has received up to $16,000 in a year in LSTA grants that fund programs such as the Autism Resource Center at its main branch as well as technology and equipment updates in its local history department.
“This year, each public library system in Mississippi was eligible for $8,000 in LSTA funding,” Busbea said. “We had planned to divide this into two grants for the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System. The first was a Professional Development grant to support continuing education, travel and training for staff. … However, with the shuttering of IMLS, we are no longer able to access the remaining funds from that grant or apply for additional LSTA funding.”
Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System Director Phillip Carter said it has previously used LSTA funds to fund staff training, ebook purchases, music therapy programming for patrons with dementia and Alzheimer’s, children’s chess club, teen coding classes and much more. Without these funds, Carter said programs and services like these may not be possible.
“Programs like these are difficult or sometimes even impossible without this additional funding from IMLS,” Carter said. “Further, the cuts in IMLS funding at our state library will almost certainly impact our access to the resources our state library currently provides to libraries as support. I worry that these will only be a start to federal cuts to public libraries.”
Busbea said it is difficult now to anticipate what the loss of IMLS staff means for local libraries, though she does anticipate further cuts being made.
“The loss of IMLS staff and funding will force cuts in other areas, creating significant challenges for libraries across the U.S,” Busbea said. “The full impact is still uncertain, as the Mississippi Library Commission is in the process of determining its next steps.”
Ivy said she is deeply concerned about future cuts in programs and services. “We are always concerned when it impacts our public and patrons’ access to library services, especially free library services,” Ivy said. “We are very concerned. We don’t know what else is coming down the pipeline.”
Busbea said that although the future may be unclear, library patrons can help spark change by contacting their local legislators.
“If you believe in the value of your local library, please help us,” Busbea said. “Speak up. Advocate. Make calls. Send emails. Let your state representatives and senators know that your community needs its library now more than ever. These funding cuts will have real consequences, not just for libraries, but for the people who rely on them every day.”
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