FY 2020 Library Budget Signed; Final Bill Includes Largest Funding Increase for Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in 12 Years

From the American Library Association

Today, Congress provided the largest increase for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding in 12 years.

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The House- and Senate-approved final FY 2020 spending bills included $252 million for IMLS, a $10 million increase for an agency originally marked for elimination by the president. Of the overall increase, $6.2 million was dedicated to the LSTA program, which includes:

• $166.8 million for LSTA Grants to States ($160.8 million in FY19)
• $5.3 million for LSTA Native American Library Services ($5.1 million in FY19)
• $10 million for LSTA Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Grants ($10 million in FY19)
• $13.4 million for LSTA National Leadership for Libraries ($13.4 million in FY19)

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In addition to IMLS increases, overall funding for the Department of Education was increased by $1.3 billion. Innovative Approaches to Literacy—also originally proposed for elimination—received $27 million for FY 2020, with support from the lead cosponsors of the “Dear Appropriator” letters for the program in both chambers: Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), Don Young (R-AK-al) and James McGovern (D-MA-2).

Other library-eligible programs in the education budget receiving funding include:

• $27 million for Innovative Approaches to Literacy ($27 million in FY19)
• $1.21 billion for Title IV Part A Well-Rounded Education ($1.17 billion in FY19)
• $192 million for Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grants ($190 million in FY19)
• $1.25 billion for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers ($1.22 billion in FY19)
• $16.3 billion for Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies ($15.9 billion in FY19)
• $2.13 billion for Title II Supporting Effective Instruction ($2.06 billion in FY19)

Read the Complete Announcement Including Comments From ALA President Wanda K. Brown

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