Author: Sean MLA

Montanans know how vital our libraries are—to our kids, our communities, our economy, and our sense of connection. But did you know that a significant portion of the funding that supports library services across our state comes from the federal government?

Right now, we need your voice to protect that funding.

The Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) is up for re-authorization in Congress. This legislation underpins the IMLS Grants to States Program, which brings critical funding to Montana libraries every single year. Without it, services like early literacy programming, statewide databases, inter-library loan, workforce development support, and more could be severely impacted—especially in rural areas that depend on this funding the most.

That’s why we’re excited to announce a new, user-friendly advocacy tool from One-Click Politics, now available through Montanans for Libraries.

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What It Does

This tool makes it incredibly easy to make your voice heard. You simply:

• Enter your contact information
• The system identifies your U.S. Senators and Representative
• You choose to send a message via email, make a quick phone call, or both
• You share the campaign with others through social media, email, or your website

No searching for contact information. No wondering what to say. The tool provides suggested language that you can personalize—or just send as-is.

Take action now: https://montanansforlibraries.org/imls-advocacy/

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Your Privacy Matters

We want to be clear: Montanans for Libraries and One-Click Politics will never sell your information. This tool exists to connect Montana residents with their elected officials—nothing more. Your privacy and trust are important to us.

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Trustworthy Information, Rooted in Montana

We know there’s a lot of noise out there—national headlines, constant updates, and social media posts competing for your attention. It can be hard to know where to turn for reliable, Montana-specific information.

That’s where Montanans for Libraries comes in. We’re committed to being a dependable source for advocacy updates, credible resources, and opportunities to take meaningful action.

If you’re looking for more background on why federal library funding matters, here are a few recent resources that highlight the value and impact of these investments in Montana:

• Federal Library Funds at Work in Montana (Montana State Library)
• Voices of Montana Libraries (COSLA Report)
• FAQ on the Executive Order Targeting IMLS (American Library Association)

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Thank You for Supporting Montana Libraries

Every message sent makes a difference. Every call adds weight. And every share helps bring more Montanans into the conversation.

Whether you’re a library worker, a trustee, a volunteer, or simply someone who values the role libraries play in our communities—your voice matters.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this movement to ensure strong, sustainable libraries for all Montanans.

Get started now: https://montanansforlibraries.org/imls-advocacy/

Across Montana, people are standing up for libraries — and we couldn’t be more grateful.

We deeply appreciate the recent editorials in the Flathead Beacon and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, which shine a spotlight on the importance of libraries to the health and future of our communities. The voices of local leaders, writers, and citizens are essential as we work together to ensure libraries remain strong and well-supported across the state.

We’re especially grateful to our partners who lead the charge in their communities and help keep Montana’s libraries thriving:

• Bozeman Public Library Foundation & Friends
• Flathead Library Foundation
• Missoula Public Library Foundation
• Great Falls Public Library Foundation
• Billings Public Library Foundation
• Trust for Montana Libraries

Together, these organizations — and the generous communities that support them — are part of a growing statewide and national network of library champions.

Want to help?
Whether you’re ready to speak up, donate, or simply learn more, visit montanansforlibraries.org/support-libraries. Every action, large or small, helps ensure Montana’s libraries remain open, vibrant, and free to all.

The Montana Library Association (MLA) is deeply concerned about the recent Executive Order affecting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). While the full implications of this order remain unclear, we recognize the potential for significant and far-reaching impacts on libraries across Montana and the entire country. For an overview of what IMLS grants Montana libraries and museums received in FY2024, check out this map.

At this time, we have limited information about how this order will be implemented or what specific effects it will have on funding, programming, and resources for Montana libraries. We believe it would be premature to speculate on the outcomes, but we want to assure our members and library supporters that we are closely monitoring the situation.

MLA is coordinating with our partners at the American Library Association (ALA) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) to stay informed and provide accurate updates. We encourage you to follow these organizations, as well as the IMLS, for the most current information.

In uncertain times especially, your stories matter. As we prepare to engage with Montana’s elected leaders and congressional delegation, it will be crucial to demonstrate the value of Montana libraries and the vital role they play in our communities. We invite library users to share their experiences with us—how your local library has supported you, your family, or your community. Your stories will help us advocate effectively and highlight the real-world impact of library services.

You can share your stories with us via our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, or by emailing us. If you’d like to share your library stories directly with Montana’s Congressional Delegation, you can find their phone numbers here.

Thank you for your continued support of Montana libraries.

We’re excited to have kicked off the 2025 Legislative session – MLA expects this to be a busy one, and an important one for Montana’s Libraries. You likely already know about our legislative priorities and our legislative proposal to address the unfunded mandate for resource-sharing. We will update you throughout the session on the status of this work, as well as on other key issues impacting your libraries. Those updates will begin in the coming weeks, so get signed up for our mailing list!

But first, a bit of fun – On January 9th, MLA hosted our Legislative Day in the Capitol rotunda in Helena, MT. It was a bit earlier in the session than usual, and it was great to see so many legislators, library staff, and library lovers at the Capitol to learn about and promote the work of libraries. This year, in addition to learning about MLA’s legislative priorities, we also invited Montana’s elected officials to have their photo taken with their favorite Montana book. This was a popular attraction, and as a result, we will print more than 60 posters and distribute them in the coming weeks to each representative’s home library. In total, we had nearly 100 legislators and dozens more library supporters stop by throughout the afternoon and into the evening!

Earlier that day, we hosted a learning session at the beautiful Lewis & Clark Library in downtown Helena. During that time, library professionals from across the state got an introduction to the Montana Legislative session from our friends at Central House Strategies, did a deep-dive on parliamentary procedure with Morgan Ray from the FVCC Library, and even learned about some new legal support opportunities that are available to them through MLA – more news on that coming soon!

We are so grateful for everyone who made this very busy week a very successful week – Special thanks to Beth Boyson, Jo Flick, John Finn, Jodi Smiley, Kris Goss, Morgan Ray, MLA’s ED Kirk Vriesman, our outstanding Board of Directors and planning committees, and to Montana’s legislative delegation.