The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has notified the Idaho Commission for Libraries that IMLS will get a 5% reduction from their current funding levels. However, IMLS has a number of programs in addition to the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and they don’t expect to know the impact on each program until Congress passes the FY2013 budget. If cuts are applied across the board, a 5% reduction for Idaho is $64,030.

The Commission will be spending FY2012 LSTA funds into the summer, so the impact of FY2013 cuts on our programs will be delayed somewhat. That gives us more time to see what is resolved in Washington so we know more of what we’re facing. A lot depends on what happens with the FY2014 budget; if the reductions are permanent or increased, the impact on our programs will be greater. Because of that, the only decision we’ve made so far is that we are not offering a competitive grant cycle this spring.