Advocate for Our Library!

Protect Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding by urging our members of Congress to protect federal funding for our library.

Call Congress to protect IMLS

Email Congress to protect IMLS

What’s Happening to Funding for our Library

The President of the United States has signed an Executive Order to eliminate the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to library funding. This will devastate libraries across America, especially in underserved communities. 

Without IMLS funding, our library will lose:

• Adult and children programming – With less funding, our librarians will not have the resources to host all the delightful programs we now enjoy.
• Transit services for interlibrary loans – When searching the catalog and putting books on reserve, have you ever noticed the statement in red font that while no copies are available at our local library, there are copies available at other libraries? 

The book you want may be available in Peoria or Galesburg or Kewanee or Pontiac or any library in our large system. Transit services for Illinois libraries ensure that libraries can easily share their collections. If we lose our interlibrary transit service, you can still check out books from other libraries, but will you drive to Galesburg, Kewanee, or Pontiac to check out the book? Think of the impact on book clubs that depend on readers having access to multiple copies. Or students doing research that need vital sources that may not be available in our local library.

• Money to buy books – The budget for buying books in Dunlap Public Library District could be cut in half.

What We’ve Been Doing

Friends of Dunlap Public Library have been calling and emailing our local representatives, advocating for our library via our local news stations WEEK and WMBD, encouraging local businesses to support our library, and donating to Friends to support the Library financially. 

We appreciate the Village of Dunlap and local businesses who have supported us with signage. Please thank them when you see the signs.

How You Can Help

There are many ways to support our Library! 

• Contact our local representatives in the House and Congress. Show Up For Our Libraries, https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries, makes it easy to call or email our local representatives and share your concern.
• Donate to the Friends of Dunlap Public Library.  Every donation helps. If this legislation is not overturned, the Library will need our financial support more than ever. Donate on the Friends webpage at https://www.dunlaplibrary.org/mission/ Help keep the current level of programs and services.
• Stay informed. Look for updates from the American Library Association, United for Libraries, Association for Library Services for Children, and Illinois Library Association.
• Raise awareness with family and friends. 
  • Follow Friends of the Dunlap Public Library on Facebook and Instagram and share posts on your social media. 
  • Post a “In This House, We Support Libraries” sign, available at the Circulation Desk in the Library, and give one to your friends. 
  • Share the DPL “Protect Library Funding” bookmark with friends and family. The bookmark is also available at the Circulation Desk.