Written by Brooks Rainwater, President and CEO, Urban Libraries Council

With the spring recess behind us, I want to share a brief update on what we are seeing at the federal level.

A recent court decision has preserved the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for now, maintaining current funding pathways. This reflects sustained advocacy across the field and what is possible when libraries engage with a unified voice.

At the same time, the broader budget outlook remains uncertain. The FY2027 proposal again calls for eliminating IMLS and includes significant reductions to programs serving low income, immigrant, unhoused, and digitally disconnected populations. These changes will increase demand on library services.

ULC is actively engaged with Congress throughout the appropriations process to protect and strengthen library funding and the programs that support your communities.

Please continue to share any engagement you are having with federal, state, and local leaders, along with how these issues are being understood in your communities. What you are seeing and hearing locally will shape how we move forward as a network and ensure we are representing the full picture of what libraries are navigating right now.

At the same time, there is clear momentum across the network. ULC has secured a series of grants that position libraries at the center of civic life and youth engagement, including a $1 million investment from Carnegie Corporation of New York to pilot a Civic Makers Lab for youth.

This project builds on our work with young adults and expands opportunity for 18 to 24 year olds. We also launched a partnership with More Perfect to strengthen collaboration between libraries and local newsrooms. These investments reflect the strength of the ULC network and the leadership of urban public libraries in shaping community life.

Lastly, I hope to see many of you in Chicago for the ULC CEO Roundtable, where we will focus on how libraries are renewing civic trust and strengthening public life. At a time when confidence in public institutions is strained, libraries remain one of the most trusted and visible civic spaces in our communities. How we sustain and build on that trust through our presence, partnerships, and the value we demonstrate will shape our ability to secure the support and investment needed moving forward. Chicago Public Library’s leadership will provide a strong example of how this work can take shape in practice.