At the same time as the letter above was being distributed, Representatives Dina Titus (NV-01) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) began circulating a letter for other members of the House of Representatives to sign onto asking the Administration to reconsider the executive order that guts the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Call Your U.S. Representatives

ACTION STEP: TODAY, please CALL your members of the U.S. House of Representatives to ask them to sign onto the letter from Representatives Titus and Bonamici. The deadline for members of Congress to sign onto the letter is end of day Friday, March 28 so calling will be the best option given the short turnaround time.

Find your Congressperson's phone number at milibraries.org/find-your-legislators.

Here is a draft script for the call:

Hello. My name is {_____} and I live in {city/town}. I work for (or am a patron of) the {insert name of your library} located in {name of city/town}.

I am calling to ask Rep. {____} to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representatives Titus and Bonamici asking the Administration to reconsider the executive order that guts the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The deadline for members to sign onto the letter is end of day Friday, March 28.

Here in Michigan, the Michigan Electronic Library - our interlibrary loan system and databases that support our school, university and public libraries will be directly and adversely affected and dismantled if the IMLS is eliminated. {Talk about how IMLS is important to your library and the community your library serves. Support received from IMLS, how many people in the community might be impacted, economic benefit, etc.}

Thank you for your time.

More Ways to Advocate

Send a message to your Congressmembers

Call your Congressmembers

Share ALA’s action alert with colleagues, friends and family

Share ALA’s action alert on social media: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads

Write a letter to the editor in your local newspaper explaining why IMLS is important and the impact of federal dollars on communities

Share your story for ALA’s story collection about the impact of federal funding on your community

Invite your Congressmembers to visit your library

Share your story with local media. Here are some examples of media stories and essays that have already been published:

• LIBRARIES FACE FEDERAL CUTS: www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2025/03/libraries-face-federal-cuts/
• HOW UPPER MICHIGAN LIBRARIANS ARE PREPARING AFTER DOWNSIZING OF FEDERAL LIBRARY AGENCY: www.myupnow.com/news/how-upper-michigan-librarians-are-preparing-after-downsizing-of-federal-library-agency/article_db1197d4-d037-4ebe-befd-b39240122a69.htm
• LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS IN MID-MICHIGAN SOUND ALARM ON FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS: www.wilx.com/2025/03/25/libraries-museums-mid-michigan-sound-alarm-federal-funding-cuts/
• MICHIGAN LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS BRACE FOR LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS AFTER TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER: www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/03/24/michigan-libraries-museums-cuts-trump-executive-order/82588822007/
• TRUMP TAKES AIM AT NATIONAL LIBRARY AGENCY: WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR MICHIGAN LIBRARIES: www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/trump-takes-aim-at-national-library-agency-what-that-could-mean-for-michigan-libraries/
• MICHIGAN LIBRARIES PREPARE FOR IMPACT AS TRUMP MOVES TO ELIMINATE FEDERAL LIBRARY AGENCY: www.wmuk.org/2025-03-21/michigan-libraries-prepare-for-impact-as-trump-moves-to-eliminate-federal-library-agency