Libraries have achieved a landmark win as part of Congress’ $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)! The Act prioritizes $200 million in funding toward libraries via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This is the single largest increase in funding to IMLS in its 25-year history.
More is on the horizon. Libraries are eligible to apply for funding through the $7 billion Emergency Education Connectivity Fund through the FCC’s E-rate program. This funding will go toward reimbursement for hotspots and other WiFi capable devices, modems, routers, laptops, tablets and other devices for libraries to loan out to patrons. President Biden signed the legislation yesterday.
ARPA’s benefits to libraries do not end there. More than $360 billion is being allocated for emergency funding to state, local and tribal community governments. This is supposed to counteract potential cuts to public health, safety, education, and library programs.
Read more about the specifics of the funding in ALA’s press release.
Please take a moment to thank members of Congress for passing this bill, at the following link!
Thanks to your advocacy, Congress is recognizing the role of libraries in the community, especially the critical role they have played during COVID-19.
More great news is in the works. The Build Americas Libraries Act which was introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2021, was also introduced in the house on March 3, 2021. This Act would provide $5 billion to fund updates to national library infrastructure, helping with upgrades to library facilities. The upgrades would be geared toward addressing challenges such as natural disasters, COVID-19, broadband capacity, environmental hazards, and accessibility barriers. Funding would be prioritized toward serving marginalized communities.
Read more in ALA’s BALA one-pager.
Take action to ask your legislators to co-sponsor the Build Americas Libraries Act of 2021, here!
