The Library’s Voice: A Commitment to Our Community – Michelle Duclos, Library Director

It’s a cold and rainy day as I sit down to write my first article for our beloved weekly library column. The library is always buzzing—with programs, new books arriving, and exciting additions to our collections. As I considered what to share first, the possibilities seemed endless: upcoming events, the latest books on our shelves, or even what I’m currently reading. But there is something weighing heavily on libraries across the country that I feel compelled to address—the loss of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency that provides essential funding for libraries nationwide.

What does this mean? It depends on the type of library—state, school, or public—but the impact is significant. As Michigan Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice put it, “A dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services will have negative implications for every American and the library services on which they rely. This action would decrease access to books and other materials and will harm residents in Michigan and across the country, especially those who live in small and rural communities.”

IMLS is the single largest source of federal funding for libraries, making up a substantial portion of each state’s library agency budget. The Library of Michigan received $4.8 million in federal funds this fiscal year through IMLS, which supports statewide services and competitive grant programs. Here in Frankenmuth, we were fortunate to receive two grants totaling $23,410.00 last year made possible by IMLS funding.

These grants allowed us to:

Expand our accessibility collection, providing materials for individuals with a variety of different physical and learning disabilities, enabling us to help bridge literacy and learning gaps for kids in our schools and community.
Increase outreach to assisted living facilities through literacy programs, aids, and reading materials enhancing quality of life plus adding memory care kits and developing programs for individuals with dementia.
Expanding the amount and variety of adult and senior programs we can offer our community and strengthen our partnerships with the City of Frankenmuth and the Frankenmuth Schools through collaboration on programming.

These initiatives directly benefit our community and would not have been possible without IMLS support.

Here in Michigan, IMLS funding supports:

Michigan eLibrary (MeL) – Providing free statewide access to subscription magazines, newspapers, reference books, journals, and more. In 2024 alone, Michigan residents accessed 19.2 million trusted articles and journals through MeL.
MeLCat Catalog – Enabling statewide sharing of books and other materials. Frankenmuth Wickson District Library was one of the first libraries to join MeLCat 20 years ago, and each year, we receive nearly 1,500 books from other libraries while lending an equal number to others. Statewide, more than a million items are shared annually, thus increasing access, particularly for small and rural libraries.
Workforce Development – Offering free access to job preparation materials, career tests, and training resources.

The list goes on to include early literacy support, continuing education for librarians, local history initiatives, and technology assistance and extensive support to our schools.

"Educators and students across the state of Michigan utilize the services provided through

Institute of Museum and Library Services funding daily for essential resources such as tools for early literacy, reliable research databases, career exploration and test prep resources,” said Ms.Christine Beachler, president of the Michigan Association of School Librarians. “The MeLdatabases are critical for helping students understand the value of research,

appreciate the importance of validating sources, and making connections between different topics, all of which are necessary for building information literacy skills."

We want our community to know that while this loss is challenging, we are committed to minimizing its impact and continuing to provide the exceptional service you rely on. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our residents and will keep working to ensure the library remains a place of access, enrichment, and opportunity for all.

Libraries are here for everyone. Thank you for standing with us.