After blocking cuts to FY 2026 funding, library advocates call for boost in federal funding for FY 2027

WASHINGTON – As the House of Representatives began taking requests for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 spending, the American Library Association (ALA) launched its annual Fund Libraries campaign, mobilizing library advocates to request their Congressmembers sign bipartisan “Dear Appropriator” letters in supporting full funding for two programs.

Led by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA-2) and Don Bacon (R-NE-2) in the House, the FY27 “Dear Appropriator” letters call on Congress to provide robust funding (authorized at $232 million) for the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) and $50 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program, respectively. The deadline for signatures is Friday, March 20. Companion letters in the Senate will be released in the coming weeks.

ALA President Sam Helmick said, “Over the past year, we have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, but libraries have a track record of success in securing support for federal funding. Just a few weeks ago the president signed a spending bill increasing funding for LSTA and continued funding for IAL. 

“These wins are not just good luck,” they said. “Federal library programs are still in place, and grants continue to flow because advocates show up for our libraries. Thousands of Americans who’d never thought about library funding a year ago, now know what the Institute of Museum and Library Services is and support its work enough to tell their congressmembers to keep funding it."

The push for congressmembers to publicly support library programs comes days after ALA hosted nearly 200 library advocates for meetings on Capitol Hill, and nearly a year after the president issued an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency which administers LSTA. The executive order was blocked by a federal judge, and Congress appropriated funds for LSTA, the only source of dedicated federal funding for the nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic, government and special libraries.   

LSTA grants, currently funded at $212.5 million, ensure that every state has access to needed resources and authority to determine their use, which include a wide range of essential services such as Wi-Fi and hotspot lending, access to technology and digital skills training, summer reading programs, employment support and materials for people with print disabilities. For FY27, ALA is requesting $232 million, the amount for which LSTA was last authorized in 2018.

IAL is the only federal program dedicated to supporting school libraries in the most high-need areas. IAL competitive grants provide books, parental engagement programs and professional development for library experts to ensure children are best positioned for success. Much of the current $30 million in funding is reserved for the work of school libraries. In the most recent round of awards, 18 states received IAL grants. The additional $20 million requested for IAL would allow students in many other states to receive literacy support and services and reach the $50 million authorization level. 

Advocates can contact their federal leaders through ALA's  #FundLibraries campaign page. ALA also is encouraging libraries, associations and other institutions to send official requests to their members of Congress to cosign the House letters before the March 20 deadline. ALA tracks signatures on Dear Appropriator letters and updates them in real time at ala.org/fundlibraries.