Burlington Library Will See Some Impacts from Federal Cuts

Burlington's Public Library has become well-known in the community over the last several years for its innovative programming and inclusive events. But recent cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) have left many Massachusetts museums and libraries wondering whether or not they'll be receiving the federal funding that helps them operate at full capacity.

Burlington's library is mostly safe, said Library Director Michael Wick, but the uncertainty at the federal level has caused some tumult at the state level, and ultimately library patrons that use certain systems will be impacted.

No federal funding supports the library directly or indirectly, said Wick. The library does bring in state aid, which was about $60,000 last year, but these monies are also not dependent on federal dollars. In addition, in an additional layer of protection from uncertainty and volatility, the town uses state aid independently from its operational budget. "That number can fluctuate based on the state legislature, and so we don't want that to be a part of our operating budget," he said.

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), however, does receive federal grants. This Board, which sets policy and supports services for libraries statewide, receives federal grant funding via the IMLS, and the furloughing of the IMLS staff meant there was no access to information about whether or not federal grants that had been awarded would actually be disbursed. MBLC had to cancel a number of previously awarded grants, said Wick, because they couldn't confirm whether or not the funds would arrive from the federal level. Burlington was not a grant recipient and will not be impacted by this decision.

The state legislature didn't increase the MBLC line item this year, despite the potential shortfall, which leaves no additional state help to cover the losses. The MBLC says the combined funding from MBLC and MLS (Massachusetts Library System) will be reduced from $2.8 million to $1.17 million.

What does this mean for Massachusetts public libraries? The MBLC funds a number of statewide databases, which are used by schools, libraries, and the public; many of these are discontinued in the FY26 budget. While Burlington can self-fund some of the highest-use databases, many communities aren't able to do this – and, furthermore, the library cannot replace all lost resources, which means patrons will experience reduced access, less choice, and longer wait times.

Impacted databases include the Boston Globe Archive, the Gale in Context databases, and the Peterson Test Prep resources; Libby and Overdrive will not be impacted. For more information about discontinued databases and more context from MBLC, check here.

Wick said the implications of losing IMLS extend far beyond library databases. It also represents a loss of the single advocate for public libraries at the national level, providing grant opportunities for innovation and data collection and research. He expects that future federal grants will be harder to obtain without IMLS, reducing long-term opportunities for growth and innovation.

The Burlington Public Library is fortunate to have strong town support, said Wick, adding, "I feel very lucky to work for a town that does support its libraries."

Still, as federal support dwindles and state resources tighten, libraries across Massachusetts—especially in less affluent communities—face mounting challenges in maintaining equitable access to information and innovation.