Four of the Big Five publishers have written a letter asking Congress to restore the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which distributes funds to state library systems.
The letter says, “While IMLS funding is just 0.003 percent of the federal budget, it has tremendous impact, supporting more than 125,000 libraries in communities across the country, from major urban centers to rural areas and small towns. Public libraries in the United States receive more than 1.3 billion in-person patron visits every year, and even more people access libraries’ resources virtually. Rural libraries are critical to their communities, serving as an essential center for information, education, and connection. … In rural areas, 83 percent of libraries are the only source of free internet access in their communities. IMLS helps libraries bridge the digital divide by providing digital resources that assist community members with finding employment, applying for government services, and completing schoolwork.”
Meanwhile, 21 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the elimination of IMLS, among other agencies. Learn more. The American Library Association and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees has also sued.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
