The Livingston County Democrats and Indivisible Livingston County are protesting the Trump administration’s cuts of $4.8 million for services to Michigan libraries through the Institute of Museum and Library Services with a “read-in” and demonstration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 1, in front of the Howell Carnegie District Library, 314 W. Grand River Ave. in downtown Howell.
“Our goal is to show people how Trump regime cuts are hitting home, eliminating funds that allow us to borrow books from other libraries and to access databases that our local libraries would not otherwise have,” said Judy Daubenmier, chair of the Livingston County Democrats. “Libraries support the freedom to be informed, a key part of a democratic society. We need to stand up for them. This is one way to do it.”
Daubenmier invited anyone interested about the funding cuts to attend the event and bring a sign.
On March 31, the Trump administration laid off all staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The institute provides funds for interlibrary loan services. That service provides local library patrons access to more than 34 million books, films, and audio materials. In 2024, more than 1 million items were borrowed by Michigan library patrons, according to information from the Michigan Library Association.
The federal funds also pay for shared access to more than 80 databases that would be much more expensive for libraries to purchase on their own. These databases are used by students, job seekers, and researchers and were accessed over 19.2 million times in 2024, according to data from the Michigan Library Association.
In 2024, users of the six Livingston County libraries borrowed 19,013 items through interlibrary loan, according to a news release from the six county libraries in April. The news release also said every $1 spent in the federal program returns $27 in benefits for the state.
