Update: Hooray! Today’s news with the American Library Association–or ALA–notes:

Federal Court Halts Dismantling of Federal Library Agency in ALA Lawsuit

Impacts from President’s Trump’s March 14 order dismantling federal funding for library services are causing tremors across the nation. How does this action affect the fate of our Sno-Isle Libraries with its 23 branches, including five on Whidbey Island?

Sno-Isle Libraries’ primary funding source is not at risk. Island and Snohomish county residents support their libraries through a special district funded by property tax up to a maximum of .50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The budget forecast is stable with nearly $68 million in tax revenue projected for 2025. An additional $7.4 million in state and federal grants—$2 million in federal funds—once provided a smaller contribution to the libraries’ budget.

Eric Howard, Sno-Isle Libraries’ new executive director hired last November from Santa Cruz CA, visited the Langley Library April 25th to answer questions raised about our libraries’ future. Prior to this interview, his April letter to the community spoke about our uncertain times:

“Libraries across the nation operate as part of a collaborative network, with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) serving as the lead federal agency supporting libraries. Recent actions have significantly disrupted IMLS operations, including an Executive Order suspending operations, decisions to terminate existing grant programs, and placing IMLS staff on paid administrative leave, resulting in halted federal support for libraries nationwide. These actions will have far-reaching consequences, especially for smaller, rural, and tribal libraries that rely heavily on federal funding.”

Washington state’s portion of IMLS funds was $3.9 million earmarked for tribal libraries, prison libraries, the state Talking Book & Braille library, inter-library loans, databases used for research, literacy programs and state historical archives, among other services.

Sno-Isle Libraries, with the Washington State Library, are monitoring which library resources will be impacted by the federal grant cuts.

The move to decimate IMLS is being challenged in the courts. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown joined 20 other states in suing the Trump administration to restore its funding. The American Library Association-ALA—and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—AFSCME—filed an injunction requesting that the IMLS be saved from the ax.

ALA reports the Trump administration’s intent to entirely eliminate funds for IMLS is at the eleventh hour: “The President’s next budget request is expected in approximately May 2025, which will propose government funding for fiscal year 2026 which begins October 1, 2025. If Congress accepts such a budget proposal and fails to provide funding for IMLS in fiscal year 2026, the agency and its programs will shut down.” Councils for ALA and AFSME met April 30th at a hearing on the issue.

As of 7:12 PM on the Pacific Coast, WSUA9-a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., reported: “WASHINGTON — A district court judge said Wednesday he’s inclined to block the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the independent agency responsible for distributing federal dollars to the nation’s museums and libraries.”

The ALA asks library patrons to contact their elected senators and representatives, requesting that IMLS funding is restored and that the executive order be overturned.

DEI and our libraries

Targeted by the current administration are the words diversity, inclusion and equity. Presidential executive orders have frozen and denied federal grants which contain mention of these inclusive terms.

Sno-Isle Libraries’ mission for the past, present and future is inclusion.

“Everyone is welcome at their library,” Howard replied in an email. “I will continue strengthening our commitment to EDI by supporting staff development and providing collections and programs reflecting the communities we serve.”

Preserving unique character of local libraries

Maintaining the unique character of each community—consider the identities of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and Clinton, for instance, is a priority with Sno-Isle Libraries.

“Our 2026 strategic planning process will include community engagement to directly shape library services and identify new opportunities,” Howard replied in an email. “I will establish collaboration across our community libraries to share successful local initiatives to connect our Library District. This dual approach ensures we achieve our vision of connecting everyone to their library.”

Eric Howard brings to the table nearly a dozen years of library leadership and administration from three states across the country. His first day with Sno-Isle Libraries was Nov. 1. He served as Assistant Director of Libraries at Santa Cruz Public Libraries before his move to the Pacific Northwest. What differences does he see in the libraries he’s worked in compared to here?

“Whether you are in Queens, NY, Chicago, IL, Santa Cruz, CA or Langley, WA – libraries bring communities together and create more resilient communities,” Howard noted. “I was drawn to Sno-Isle Libraries’ vision of everyone is connected to their library. As a Library District, Sno-Isle provides access to knowledge and resources over a geographically diverse region. The governance as a Library District is different from Santa Cruz’s structure. It is inspiring to see how each system reflects the unique character of its community while advancing the shared mission of public libraries.”

Cultivating Friends of the Library

‘Friends of the Library’ are an essential resource for fund-raising and support for our local libraries. For instance, Friends of the Langley Library paid for the new interactive slide in the children’s room during the library’s year-long remodel. Howard said he is dedicated to cultivating these essential volunteers and creating a climate of welcome for what they do.

“My relationship with Friends [of the Library]started early in Queens,’ Howard said. “They are integral with what I did. It’s where I learned of the potential of libraries. An example: New York [and its adjacent boroughs, including Queens]is a complicated political system…in the most diverse county with immigrants discovering how to plug in and face challenges. Our Friends recognized this. Queens saw as its mission how to connect with different communities: one block Guatamela, another Ukraine. Different worlds block by block. Our Friends were members of these different communities. We did open forums, which they sponsored, where the people provided questions and we arranged for elected officials to answer them. We transcended different levels of government, connected people and got answers they needed.”

Digital holds

Meanwhile, local library patrons ask why their digital holds have been reduced from 20 to 10 in late January of this year. Katie Leone, Sno-Isle Libraries Marketing and Communication Manager, said libraries are charged considerably higher rates for digital titles.

“The popular title ‘Onyx Storm’ had more than 2000 holds—an individual might pay $14.99, and the library price is $60 per title,” Leone said. She emailed a link—Help Libby–which explains how to save titles one might like to read for the future, and be notified when they are ready. Patrons are also encouraged to visit Sno-Isle Libraries link to popular, often changing titles: eBook fiction; eBook nonfiction; digital audiobooks; and comics.

Patrons might be surprised to learn libraries do not own digital titles, but lease them. A Sno-Isle Libraries January press release notes:

“In addition to the higher price, libraries do not own eBooks and digital audiobooks like print books. Libraries purchase licenses for a set timeframe or number of checkouts and when licenses expire, titles must be repurchased to continue availability. The number of holds placed for a title are used as an indicator of demand and additional licenses are purchased to reduce wait times as much as possible. Purchasing additional copies to meet customer demand accounted for over half of our digital budget in 2024. Reducing the holds limit will help to reduce overall wait times and allow us to redistribute funds to increase the number of titles available in the collection.”

Patrons’ demands for digital titles have doubled in the past five years in the wake of COVID.

“Our demand has gone through the roof for digital materials,” Howard added. “The whole community is the beneficiary of these new resources. Now the library is working to keep up with demand.”

Sno-Isle Libraries is working with library directors and legislators to pursue a feasibility study to further understand rates for eBooks.

“We’re concerned about the current publishing model,” Howard added. “It’s one of the biggest strains on public libraries. Publishers are keenly aware of the demand that public libraries are facing.”

Libraries as centers of connection and safety

Eric Howard said libraries are essential to civic health, especially in our challenging times.

“We can’t close the doors and say only certain people can come in. At libraries we see one another as a neighbor rather than some sort of problematic political trope,” Howard said. “Libraries are nonjudgmental places. It doesn’t matter one’s race or economic background. We’re the anecdote to antagonistic behavior. Treating people with dignity has a very powerful effect.”

He sees libraries as protectors of democracy.

“I’ve been saying for some time…no matter what the world is doing beyond Snohomish and Island counties, we refer to libraries as anchors of local support. That’s not going away. It may feel you don’t have that much effect. It’s not true. There are boundless opportunities to have an impact if you use your libraries.”

Visit Sno-Isle Libraries for more information.