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Weekly News Digest
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May 6, 2025 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
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Trump Administration and Libraries: Federal Budget, IMLS Restraining Order, and Changes to ERIC
EveryLibrary issued a statement on the Trump administration’s FY2026 federal budget proposal. “On page 39, it boldly calls for completely eliminating the budget for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated solely to supporting America’s libraries and museums,” EveryLibrary shares. “His proposal also seeks to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), AmeriCorps, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).”The statement continues, “At EveryLibrary, we are both realistic and hopeful. We understand the risks ahead, but we also believe in the power of voters, constituents, and communities to defend what matters.” EveryLibrary urges people to sign its petition, contact Congress, and donate to its cause. In related news, Public Libraries Online reports that “the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order to block the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The decision was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). … The temporary restraining order was issued days before the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees was set to take effect on May 4.” EveryLibrary issued a statement on this encouraging news, writing, “It reaffirms that IMLS must continue to operate as directed by Congress, including the resumption of Grants to States and other critical grant programs that libraries, museums, and non-profit organizations across the nation depend on.” The Hechinger Report published the following update on ERIC: The U.S. Department of Education announced … that it would continue to operate its online library, known as ERIC, after allowing it to lapse. … The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had sought significant cuts to the document repository that is used by 14 million people a year, and allowed funding to run out on April 23. That ended the ability of the Education Department to add new research reports and documents to the library that is used by education policymakers, researchers and teachers. … Going forward, ERIC’s $5.5 million annual budget has been cut by 50 percent. That will reduce the number of new papers and reports that can be added to the database and eliminate the helpdesk for the public.
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Brandi Scardilli
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