LIBRARY NEWS & ISSUES
April 21, 2025 - Update
Public Library funding and services are at risk across the state of Indiana
Public Library funding and services are at risk across the state of Indiana
An additional threat to public library funding is also in motion. A case is being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of a program referred to at "E-Rate". E-Rate is a federally funded program that pays 70% of BEGCPL's technology costs associated with broadband internet, firewalls, and technology management costs. This article provides a great explanation of the program and the court case. In 2024, BEGCPL's 30% of our technology costs came out to more than $8,800, to provide internet access in each of our buildings and to the public via Wi-Fi, and to manage our system security. That is a savings to the library of about $20,000.
April 16, 2025
Public Library funding and services are at risk across the state of Indiana
Public Library funding and services are at risk across the state of Indiana
If you haven’t been in a public library lately, you may have missed some of what we offer to the community. Yes, we still have books: westerns, cookbooks, science fiction, romance, large print, board books and picture books, graphic novels, and early readers to name a few. We also offer music, dvd’s and bluray’s for entertainment or education, audio books, as well as tool sets, cooking gadgets, and crafting machines.
Instead of silence and bookshelves, you may now find patrons (and sometimes library staff) creating social media posts, holding book clubs, catching up, playing with their children or using spaces for remote work or homeschooling. While we do have quiet spaces, if that is what you need, your public library is more than that now.
At the most basic level, we offer a warm building in the winter, an air conditioned space in the summer, access to free WiFi and use of computers, inexpensive printing, copying, and faxing capabilities. A legal information kiosk with free printing, tax forms when that time of year comes around, and a community garden with free fresh veggies at harvest time. And always, a comfortable place to take a break and recharge yourself and your device.
Libraries regularly offer programming to the public that include arts, crafting, music, STEM and STEAM topics, gardening, gaming, entertainment, education, author talks, scavenger hunts, kids story time, history, genealogy, and so much more! Most of these programs end up being free to the public, or cost a minimal amount to participants. The costs to the library vary, from the cost of supplies and time staff puts in, up to hundreds of dollars.
Public Library budgets are built to provide these services to our communities, however we are in a time of significant upheaval as public libraries are seeing government leaders make drastic changes to their spending which directly affects our library budgets. Public libraries are an arm of local government, some libraries may hold status as a nonprofit organization, but most do not. Even as a part of your local government, public libraries should be striving to maintain a neutral status in their community, not leaning toward any particular political stance, but toward supporting their community, and the needs of that community. The following is shared as a listing of facts, not preference.
Instead of silence and bookshelves, you may now find patrons (and sometimes library staff) creating social media posts, holding book clubs, catching up, playing with their children or using spaces for remote work or homeschooling. While we do have quiet spaces, if that is what you need, your public library is more than that now.
At the most basic level, we offer a warm building in the winter, an air conditioned space in the summer, access to free WiFi and use of computers, inexpensive printing, copying, and faxing capabilities. A legal information kiosk with free printing, tax forms when that time of year comes around, and a community garden with free fresh veggies at harvest time. And always, a comfortable place to take a break and recharge yourself and your device.
Libraries regularly offer programming to the public that include arts, crafting, music, STEM and STEAM topics, gardening, gaming, entertainment, education, author talks, scavenger hunts, kids story time, history, genealogy, and so much more! Most of these programs end up being free to the public, or cost a minimal amount to participants. The costs to the library vary, from the cost of supplies and time staff puts in, up to hundreds of dollars.
Public Library budgets are built to provide these services to our communities, however we are in a time of significant upheaval as public libraries are seeing government leaders make drastic changes to their spending which directly affects our library budgets. Public libraries are an arm of local government, some libraries may hold status as a nonprofit organization, but most do not. Even as a part of your local government, public libraries should be striving to maintain a neutral status in their community, not leaning toward any particular political stance, but toward supporting their community, and the needs of that community. The following is shared as a listing of facts, not preference.
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On March 14, 2025 the White House issued an executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s only federal agency focused on America’s libraries. The IMLS provided grants for individual libraries as well as funding to states to support their libraries. This funding, in the state of Indiana, subsidizes the Evergreen Indiana library catalog, the transportation of materials between libraries (Interlibrary loan), Libby eBook collections, and the INSPIRE suite of research databases.
On April 14, 2025 the Indiana Senate passed and sent Senate Bill 1: Property Tax Bill to Governor Braun to sign which reduces property taxes for Indiana residents. While this relieves some tax burden for many Hoosiers, it also reduces the funds available to local government organizations like public schools, municipalities, and public libraries. Currently in the Indiana House of Representatives is House Bill 1001: State Budget. In its current form, this bill proposes a reduction to the budgets of state agencies by 5% while reducing the budget for the Indiana State Library by 30%. The Indiana State Library coordinates many services for the hundreds of other libraries in the state including: the transportation of materials between libraries (Interlibrary loan), Libby eBook collections, the INSPIRE suite of research databases, Evergreen Indiana, continuing education and certification of librarians, and annual trainings and workshops that keep Indiana’s public libraries informed and following laws and best practices. |
Infographic showing how loss of federal funding and reduction of state property taxes may affect Indiana Libraries
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If you wish to have your voice heard regarding these decisions that risk library services and funding, please contact our state and federal representatives and let them know how much you value your public library. Share this information with family and friends, consider signing the petition issued by EveryLibrary opposing the executive order, and repost the Indiana Library Federation’s Funding Cuts infographics via social media.
Additional Information and Contacts (4/16/2025):
Executive Order 3/14/2025: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/
House Bill 1001: https://legiscan.com/IN/text/HB1001/id/3068356
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/hundreds-rally-at-the-statehouse-against-senate-bill-1-affecting-education-and-libraries#google_vignette
Senate Bill 1: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/15/indiana-senate-property-tax-relief-bill-mike-braun-senate-bill-1-sb-1/83045300007/
https://iga.in.gov/publications/supplemental_fiscal_note_report/SB1_2nd_Reading_Amendment_House_Adopted_Net%20Levy_Estimates_With%20Year-Over-Year_Changes.pdf
- Senator Todd Young - Online Form https://www.young.senate.gov/contact/email-todd/
(317) 226-6700 or (202) 224-5623
- Senator Jim Banks - Online Form https://www.banks.senate.gov/shareyour-opinion/
(260) 321-7130 or (202) 224-4814
- Your Representative in the US House of Representatives https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Executive Order 3/14/2025: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/
House Bill 1001: https://legiscan.com/IN/text/HB1001/id/3068356
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/hundreds-rally-at-the-statehouse-against-senate-bill-1-affecting-education-and-libraries#google_vignette
Senate Bill 1: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/15/indiana-senate-property-tax-relief-bill-mike-braun-senate-bill-1-sb-1/83045300007/
https://iga.in.gov/publications/supplemental_fiscal_note_report/SB1_2nd_Reading_Amendment_House_Adopted_Net%20Levy_Estimates_With%20Year-Over-Year_Changes.pdf
- Senator Todd Young - Online Form https://www.young.senate.gov/contact/email-todd/
(317) 226-6700 or (202) 224-5623
- Senator Jim Banks - Online Form https://www.banks.senate.gov/shareyour-opinion/
(260) 321-7130 or (202) 224-4814
- Your Representative in the US House of Representatives https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative