The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): My Story

The following is a letter I sent to my elected officials in March, 2025. I chose to share my personal experience with The Institute of Museum and Library Services with the hope that it might educate others and help our cause.

Thankfully, my representatives already support the IMLS, but many others don’t. So, I decided to share this here with the hope that my story might reach a larger audience. Please encourage your legislators to continue fighting for IMLS, it’s not over yet. - Lindsey

***

Please encourage your legislators to fight for IMLS.

I am writing to share my personal relationship with The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), “an independent federal agency that supports libraries, archives and museums in all 50 states and U.S. territories.” (imls.gov) I vehemently oppose the current administration’s plan to cut this vital agency.

As a museum professional, I have had the pleasure and honor to serve as a peer reviewer for the IMLS Museums for America grant program for six of the past nine years (2016-17, 2019, 2021-22, 2024). Every year I am amazed by the quality of proposals and projects that find their way to my desk. Organizations across the country depend on IMLS funding to further their noble, mission-based work. Personally, my review assignments have proposed innovative exhibit projects, exciting educational opportunities, and digitizing collections to save and increase access to many of America’s treasures.

Peer reviewers must reapply each year by submitting our resume and areas of expertise. To date, I have reviewed approximately 41 grant applications spanning at least 23 states and Washington DC. (Stats are approximate because I no longer have details about my 2021 assignments.) The known applications I reviewed came from: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, NC, ND, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, VA, VT, and WA. I estimate that I have spent approximately 120 hours reviewing IMLS grant proposals and even though I am just a small cog in this wheel, I can firmly state that the IMLS is vital to organizations nationwide.

As a Museums for America peer reviewer, I have reviewed large ($100k+) and small (under $75k) proposals from museums, arboretums, universities, planetariums, and similar organizations. As a reviewer, I use the templates and guidelines provided by IMLS to carefully review each application and provide individualized feedback. To receive top scores, a proposal must be extremely well-written and organized, and the proposed project must be on-mission, follow budget requirements, and fulfill the unique requirements of the grant they selected. The proposal must convince us that their project is not only a priority for their organization and audience, but also something that is worthy of federal funding. They must also demonstrate that their staff and vendors are capable and ready to successfully complete the project within the stated timeframe. Resumes and letters of intent are included as supplements, as are quotes for materials and services and supplemental documents such as recommendation letters from community leaders.

Staff spend many, many hours preparing these projects and proposals. The review process is multi-tiered, with many people providing input and discussing each proposal. If a proposal is lacking in any way, it will receive low scores and will not be funded. These grants are extremely competitive, with only the best applicants receiving funding. These are absolutely not federal handouts.

To lose the IMLS would be a giant blow to museums, libraries, and archives in every corner of these United States of America. I implore you to do everything you can to save the IMLS, an agency that already operates at a minimum level, making up only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget.

Thank you for your time and support,
Lindsey Smith