Tell Congress to #FundLibraries

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We need your help to urge Congress to support library funding in next year's federal budget (for fiscal year 2026, or FY26).

TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT LIBRARIES

The Congressional committees that decide the federal budget have included funding for library services in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as well as for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program in the Department of Education (ED), in their latest bill drafts.

Since we can’t tell exactly what route Congress will take now to fund the government, it’s critical that library supporters like you urge them to include library funding in whatever version of their funding bills moves forward—and that we keep it up until it’s passed.

Want to customize bookmarks to hand out in your community about all the ways that libraries improve our lives, or learn best practices for writing a letter to the editor or hosting your legislators at your local library? We've got you covered with all that and more!

As ALA fights for the future of library funding in court, we need every advocate to tell Congress to #FundLibraries.

As the courts deliberate on the Administration’s illegal attempt to eliminate the only federal agency dedicated to libraries (IMLS), it’s critical that Congress includes funding for this agency through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY26 budget—otherwise, IMLS won’t be able to operate, regardless of the outcome of the court cases. For school libraries, IAL provides needed resources for addressing literacy. Similarly, while courts debate the future of ED, it’s vital that Congress continue funding for IAL.

Where does library funding stand now?

On September 10, the House Appropriations Committee approved (called a mark-up) its fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS), which had been approved by the subcommittee on September 2. This bill includes an increase of $400,000 for the LSTA Grants to States Program and holds the line on other LSTA programs while reducing IMLS overall by $3 million. The approved bill also provides level funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program (housed within the Department of Education) at $30 million. Unfortunately, the bill seems to have decimated education broadly (cutting $12 billion in education funding overall). The bill now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration alongside the 11 other spending bills that make up the federal budget.

Before the August recess, the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved its LHHS spending bill, which provided a $3 million increase in LSTA Grants to States, held steady on other LSTA programs, and decreased IMLS overall by $3 million. The bill approved level funding for IAL at $30 million.

Although FY 2026 spending bills are moving through the traditional committee process it is unlikely that Congress will vote on alle 12 individual funding bills before the October 1st deadline, which is the start of the next federal fiscal year. As a result, a government shutdown looms over the federal budget process. In the next few weeks, Congress will seek a bipartisan agreement on a temporary funding measure (Continuing Resolution, or CR). This CR will give Congress additional time to work on the spending bills. Last year, Congress was unable to pass any FY 2025 spending bills and eventually passed a full year CR. Political tensions make another full year CR possible.

Learn more about the campaign to fund libraries and spread the word with our tools and resources below.

Congressional "Dear Appropriator" Signature History

Each year, ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office works with congressional staff to produce and circulate "Dear Appropriator" letters in Congress, addressed to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting funding amounts for federal programs that support libraries. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding supports libraries of all types through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and its grant programs, including direct-to-state grants. The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) funding supports school libraries through the Department of Education.

The circulation of the "Dear Appropriator" letters marks the first and most influential nationwide advocacy action on the federal budget in any given year, and took place this year between April and May. In 2025, the letters were led by Senator Jack Reed (RI), Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02). You can see the final tally of signatures in both house of Congress below.

Did your Senators sign on to support library funding in FY2026 or in previous fiscal years?

Did your House Representative sign on to support library funding in FY2026 or in previous fiscal years?

Appropriations Fact Sheets & Resources

Download a handy one-pager of your state's IMLS funding history and library facts. Need more specific examples? Check out the full IMLS grant database!

Curious about the specifics of what federal funds have paid for over the past decade? Check out this detailed chart for all the services that federal funds have provided across the country!

Download our Appropriations pathway for advocates to learn more about how the Appropriations process works.

Invite members of Congress to visit your library. Check out these tips for organizing a virtual or in-person visit, and download this one-page introduction to Federal funding to share with them on the visit.

Share the Campaign - Share Your Story!

Spread the word about #FundLibraries on social media and share the impact of IMLS funding in your library or state. Remember to tag your posts with #FundLibraries.

Download all of our Fund Libraries graphics here.
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Fund Libraries - Tell Congress to invest in libraries

Past "Dear Appropriator" Letters

FY26 Senate Letter on LSTA - May 2025
FY26 Senate Letter on IAL - May 2025
FY26 House Letter on LSTA - April 2025
FY26 House Letter on IAL - April 2025

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