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Federal grant funding restored for Iowa libraries, museums
Area libraries and literacy advocates are celebrating the move while also highlighting continued uncertainty for the program’s future
Dec. 10, 2025 5:30 am, Updated: Dec. 10, 2025 7:03 am
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DES MOINES — Iowa libraries can once again access millions of dollars in federal aid following the reinstatement of previously terminated grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The federal agency last week announced that “upon further review,” it would be reinstating hundreds of grants put on hold earlier this year following a directive from President Donald Trump to wind down agency operations.
Per the IMLS posting, the reinstatement “supersedes any prior notices which may have been received related to grant termination” and grantees were urged to access the agency’s electronic grants management system for additional information.
The announcement follows a November ruling from a federal judge who found the administration’s efforts to dismantle the congressionally created agency were unlawful. The suit was filed against the administration this spring by attorneys general from 21 states, not including Iowa.
Among affected grantees are the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines, the Dubuque Museum of Art and the State Library of Iowa, which uses annual IMLS funds to support library operations and initiatives across the state.
In a written statement to The Gazette, State Librarian Brenda Hall said the state agency is “pleased and grateful” for the restoration of the IMLS grant funding and is now working on communicating the change to the broader Iowa library system.
“The State Library remains committed to the core programs and services that federal funding supports,” Hall wrote. “We are focused on sustainably expending our current grant award while also monitoring the federal budget process as we await confirmation of” future funding.
Grant reinstatement ‘massive win’ for Iowa libraries
Marion Public Library Youth Services Manager Bob Reynolds said the restoration of IMLS funds is welcome news for the Marion library and others across the state.
“There’s this kind of idea that IMLS isn’t a major part of helping libraries and museums, but while it’s not a huge (percentage), it's still a form of advocacy and support that helps all local libraries,” Reynolds said.
While the Marion Public Library does not receive federal funds directly, Reynolds said it utilizes several statewide services offered through the State Library that are funded by the annual IMLS “Grants to States” program.
In fiscal year 2025, Iowa received roughly $2.2 million through the program. Combined with state matching funds, library systems statewide received about $3.5 million under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Related initiatives include patron-facing programs like IA Shares, a state-run delivery service to support the sharing of materials between libraries, as well as funding support for accreditation and continuing education services for Iowa libraries and their staff.
Following this spring’s IMLS funding clawback, Reynolds said several of those programs experienced “hiccups” or changes.
IA Shares went from a twice-a-week delivery service down to once a week, for example, and many libraries lost access to the Brainfuse online homework help services when the State Library switched to a scaled back test prep program.
Reynolds said the restoration of IMLS funds should allow for a reconsideration of those changes, or at the very least more consistency moving forward.
Ely Public Library Director Sarah Sellon echoed the same, adding that patrons don’t always realize that those decisions are made at the state level rather than by individual libraries.
“Ultimately, those decisions are not up to us,” Sellon said. “We’re still waiting to hear at this point (what the IMLS restoration) means for our services, … but we’re hoping for some good news soon.”
In certain aspects, smaller libraries like Sellon’s are more reliant on IMLS funding compared to larger systems because they have a smaller property tax base to pull from and tighter budgets to work with.
The Ely library supplements its existing catalog using the IA Shares program, for example, and through the state’s Bridges eLibrary program, a state-facilitated e-book and audiobook buying consortium funded in part using IMLS funds.
Without IMLS funds to help cover those program costs, Sellon said smaller libraries would be hard pressed to fill the gaps themselves.
Current projects can move forward, although future funding uncertain
In addition to the grants to states program, IMLS also distributes millions of dollars in grants annually for more specialized programs or initiatives. Two Iowa projects received such funding last year for a combined investment of $271,000.
This spring, however, awardees — the Science Center of Iowa and the Dubuque Museum of Art — were told those grants were being put on hold. Funds for both have now been released.
For its part, the science center was set to receive a $196,046 grant to update all of its exhibits with bilingual labels and to engage in surveying and outreach to better engage underserved communities and increase museum access.
Science Center of Iowa CEO Curt Simmons said work on the project ceased this spring after the announcement that its grant funds were being terminated. After last week’s reinstatement, however, staff began a full review of grant materials to ensure the project remains feasible.
Staff remain highly interested in the project, Simmons said, but must also evaluate logistic elements such as the reassignment of staff who had been moved to other projects following the funding freeze.
“We felt really great about the project and like it was a strong proposal to reach new audiences and serve more people with all the great programming we already do, so we’re certainly going to try to figure out how to get it done,” he said.
While celebrating the return of previously allocated IMLS funds, state and federal advocacy groups are also urging caution given uncertainty about future allocations with American Library Association President Sam Helmick noting that much of the agency’s future now falls to Congress.
Congress first established IMLS in 1996 to oversee grant funding for libraries and museums across the country, and the agency is funded through the legislative body’s annual federal appropriations process.
“We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not finished,” Helmick — who also is community and access coordinator for the Iowa City Public Library — said in a written statement. “The administration can appeal court decisions. Congress can choose to not fund IMLS in future years. ALA calls on everyone who values libraries to remind their Congress members and elected officials at every level why America’s libraries deserve more, not fewer resources."
Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com
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