Libraries Are Under Attack by Project 2025

Libraries are the cornerstones of a democratic society (1). The Heritage Foundation, as revealed in Project 2025, seeks to spread a fear of libraries by asserting that they distribute pornography and equating that with transgenderism. It seeks to eliminate or suppress information through book bans and restrictions on public-school lessons and censorship of library and classroom materials (2). 

Outlined by Project 2025, the means to handicap libraries is eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency dedicated to sustaining the entire library and museum ecosystem in the United States. It provides financial backing to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science, and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and historic sites, and supports library services through grants to states and territories (3).

On March 14, 2025, the President signed an Executive Order to force the IMLS and six other federal agencies to streamline their functions to essential, statutorily authorized duties (4). Federal courts subsequently issued temporary injunctions to reverse the agencies’ dismantling. Two lawsuits continue in order to ultimately arrive at the merits of the cases involving the IMLS. 

Nationwide, libraries of all types – public, academic, school, and research – benefit from IMLS funding. Federal funds appropriated to IMLS and distributed as grants to our state for libraries ($15.7 million in state fiscal year 2025) pass through the California State Library to nonprofit organizations and local government libraries (5). The proposed federal fiscal year 2026 budget currently under debate in Congress would zero out IMLS funds. 

Tuolumne and Calaveras counties’ libraries do not directly receive IMLS grants but do use state-appropriated grant funds distributed through the State Library. Both library systems are members of Califa, a nonprofit library membership consortium representing 200+ libraries in California, which receives project grant funding from IMLS to support its members (6). Tuolumne County operates the Sonora Main library and branch locations in Groveland, Tuolumne, and Twain Harte, as well as a mobile library. Calaveras County’s main library is in San Andreas, with branch locations in Angels Camp, Arnold, Copperopolis, Mokelumne Hill, Murphys, Valley Springs, and West Point. 

Our libraries offer much more than books. Onsite, they offer free Wi-Fi and computers to check emails, pay bills, and help students with homework. A library card allows access to interlibrary loans and E-books. Library cards are available to unhoused residents by showing a picture ID or proof of post office delivery, and a homeless shelter serves as proof of residence. 

Libraries across the country provide additional services such as adult literacy classes, access to magazines and newspapers, and use of platforms such as Hoopla or Kanopy to stream movies, documentaries, and TV shows. Friends of Tuolumne County Library (FOTCL) is currently funding the platform Kanopy. Library patrons have access. The Tuolumne County libraries do not currently offer Hoopla. Local library services are noted on their websites:

Tuolumne County Library
Calaveras County Library

NOTES

1. “REPORT: How Will Project 2025 Impact Libraries?” EveryLibrary Institute, EveryLibrary, July 29, 2024.
2. Spencer Chretien,  “Project 2025,” The Heritage Foundation, The Heritage Foundation, January 31, 2023.
3. “Learn About IMLS,” About Us, Institute of Museum and Library Services, USA.gov.
4. “FAQ: Executive Order Targeting IMLS,” American Library Association, updated June 10, 2025.
5. Jeff Barbosa, “California State Library Receives Notice of Termination of Federal Grant by IMLS,” California State Library, California State Library, April 3, 2025.
6. “Grant Projects,” Califa, Califa Group, 2025.
7. Jennifer Vilcarino, “Trump Administration Cuts Library Funding. What It Means for Students,” Education Week, March 19, 2025.