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Public Libraries Face Deep Federal Funding Cuts

Richard H. Driehaus Prize to be awarded to Chicago architect

The Harold Washington Library, designed by Chicago architect Thomas H. Beeby.

Flickr/Daniel X. O’Neil

The budget proposal by the Trump administration calls for the elimination of funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides federal funding to public libraries. The loss of revenue would jeopardize programs and resources like family, digital literacy and community engagement. 

Meanwhile, on the local level, state budget cuts have already affected thousands of Chicago Public School (CPS) students that don’t have the benefit of a certified school librarian. 

Morning Shift talks to Julie Todaro, president of the American Library Association, about federal budget cuts and the future of libraries in the digital age.

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