@aescling From an email sent to all Grosse Pointe Public Library accounts:

"You may have heard about the Executive Order (EO) that adversely affects the only federal agency that provides resources to our nation's libraries, museums and archives.

The latest EO "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy" directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to eliminate non-statutory programs and reduce its functions and personnel to the minimum required by law.

We've received numerous questions about this and I wanted to share some of the facts and impact it will have on us locally.

Impact on Michigan

Michigan receives modest federal funding from IMLS, but our 397 public library systems, 87 academic libraries, nearly 3,000 school libraries, 650 museums and hundreds of historical organizations pride themselves on using these resources efficiently and innovatively to deliver outstanding programs and services. The changes to IMLS ordered in the EO would be devastating to the cultural and literary landscape enjoyed by all Michigan residents.

While funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (ending Sept. 2025) has been appropriated to the IMLS in the newly approved Continuing Resolution, we have no guarantees of funding for IMLS in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Impact on the GPPL

One of the key services that would be eliminated is the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL and MeLCat). The GPPL is one of the top 25 libraries that participate in this lending system across all types of libraries in Michigan. In fact, sharing is one of the key tenants of libraries. Last year alone, we loaned over 19,500 items to other libraries. And since our participation in MeL in 2008 we have shared 442,495 items. I personally, don't want to see this service eliminated. Do you?

If you feel so inclined, please reach out to the Michigan representatives in Washington DC to let them know how important libraries are to you and your community."

@wallhackio that sucks complete ass