Federal cuts could hurt libraries & museums across UP

UPPER MICHIGAN (WLUC) - President Trump issued an executive order March 14 targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services and six other agencies. They’ve been told to cut operations to the bare minimum.

The Library of Michigan says it’s receiving nearly $4.8 million this fiscal year from the institute. Funding for the institute will continue through September of this year. What’s next is undetermined at this point.

“If all of these services were eliminated, there would be an ask to the Michigan government to see if there’s money in the Michigan budget to finance some or all,” Peter White Public Library Director Andrea Ingmire said.

One service is Michigan eLibrary databases. It’s available to all residents in Michigan. MeL Catalog is like ham radio for libraries. If you can’t find books or movies or music at your library, Ingmire says MeLCat gives you access to every library in Michigan.

“It’s a very powerful resource,” Ingmire said. “It takes our collection, which, for a U.P. library is pretty robust, but there’s a lot of really small libraries that are part of MeLCat and it takes their collection and magnifies it by the entire state.”

The goal of recent federal cuts by the Trump administration is to save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending and return power to local communities and state governments. Molly Paquin, Michilimackinac Historical Society Executive Director, says she thinks this order could hurt the economy of local communities.

“If funding for programs and educational opportunities dwindle away, that will reduce the number of people that may visit our communities,” Paquin said. “Therefore, it will have a trickledown effect on hotels, restaurants and other businesses.”

By March 21, the head of each of the seven agencies listed in the executive order will need to explain which of its components are required and to what extent.

The Trump administration can then reject funding requests, based on if they are in line with this order or not.

Ingmire says patrons should contact their elected federal officials to share their views on this order.