Take action for our libraries
The American Library Association (ALA) is calling on all library supporters to contact our members of Congress and urge them to protect federal funding for libraries by protesting the dismantling of the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The noise on this issue needs to be loud and sustained!
Read BPL President David Leonard’s Boston Globe editorial (4/11/25)
What you can do today
1. Make a phone call or send an email to your elected officials.
Phone calls and emails take only a couple of minutes and send a strong message to elected officials that their constituents care enough to take time out of their day to make their voices heard. It’s extremely important that Congress receives a flood of calls opposing the IMLS’ dismantling. Calls do tend to get more attention.
2. Ask a friend to make a call.
Once you have made your calls, see if you can get three friends who love libraries as much as you do to call as well.
What you can say (feel free to personalize):
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [YOUR CITY AND STATE]. I’m calling to urge [ SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE NAME ] to support libraries and protect the Institute of Museum and Library Services from being dismantled by the current Administration.
I urge you to overturn the executive order and continue funding for IMLS in the next fiscal year.
Contact information for Senators and Representatives for JP residents:
Senator Elizabeth Warren
202-224-4543 or email Senator Warren
Senator Edward Markey
202-224-2742 or email Senator Markey
Representative Stephen Lynch (Ward 19, Precincts 1-9)
202-225-8273 or email Rep Lynch
Representative Ayanna Pressley (Ward 19, Precincts 10-13)
202-225-5111 or email Rep Pressley
If you’re not in JP, check out 5Calls.org to find your three representatives: https://5calls.org/
3. Donate to support our library and its services:
Become a member of the Friends of the JP Branch Library (all funds go directly to the JP library branch)
4. For up to date information on legal challenges and advocacy steps see:
Show Up for Our Libraries | American Library Association
5. Additional information for advocacy tools, to stay informed and access latest updates:
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: Federal Funding
FAQ: Executive Order targeting IMLS