Federal cuts threaten local library services

Feeling the sting of the latest federal budget cuts, Jefferson County libraries expect to eliminate or severely curtail key services in the coming months.

President Donald Trump last week issued an executive order ending the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants to States program, which provides Montana libraries with roughly $1.4 million annually. 

“We won’t need to cut any staff, but it’s still going to have a significant impact,” said Boulder Community Library director Jodi Smiley. “The situation keeps changing, and we want to be careful not to misinform people. We’re going to do everything we can to keep things moving, and have as little an impact on our patrons as possible.”