Where history unfolds, ancient and modern media coexist and where stories of the forgotten are told again. No, this isn’t some mystical fantasy world. It’s your local library. But now, with recent governmental defunding and the budget-slashing efforts pushed by the Trump Administration, local libraries are at risk.
Libraries across the country are facing the closure of databases, staff cuts, and the slow erasure of their mission. And these effects aren’t just playing out on a national scale; they’re hitting home, right here in Mississippi. Mississippi libraries and archives have been hit hard in the wake of federal defunding.
On March 14, President Trump signed an executive order that calls for the elimination of non-statutory functions, resulting in the Institute of Museum and Library Services losing funding and being placed on administrative leave. The IMLS is one of the main federal agencies that support libraries across the U.S. It provides essential funding for technology, books, digital resources and other educational programs. The erasure of this program has caused initiatives like HOOPLA–an online services platform that allows library cardholders access to free e-books, audiobooks, movies and more–to be shut down at some state libraries. Without IMLS funding, libraries are left scrambling to maintain digital access for patrons who rely on these tools the most.
“These are resources that are being cut because of decreased funding,” says USM librarian and curator Jennifer Brannock. “It persecutes those who are disabled, don’t have transportation or the resources to buy books.”
Not only are free program services being shut down, but the history of many is also on the brink of erasure. In efforts to uphold DOGE’s anti-DEI movement, Mississippi lawmakers are ordering the deletion of two databases focused on gender and race. The collection is stored in what is called the Magnolia database, which is used by public-funded schools, libraries, universities and state agencies in Mississippi. By restricting access to these resources, the state isn’t just cutting costs; it’s cutting off access to knowledge, identity and history.
“Two databases have been cut: one that focuses on the history of African Americans and their struggles, and the other one is about women and their rights,” says Brannock. “And that comes from pressure from state legislators trying to preemptively support what is coming out of President Trump’s Administration.”
Libraries have long been vital to our society, not just as places to borrow books but as institutions that promote democracy, education and free access to information. They help shape today’s society and are fundamental to the intellectual growth of individuals across generations, and questions have arisen if that intellectual growth may be a threat to our current administration.
“It’s education. It’s history. It’s a lot of things, and being educated in turn makes you more intelligential,” says Southern Miss student Guy Henry. “And some people don’t like when you’re able to understand things critically.”
But the fight for libraries doesn’t end here. Organizations such as the Mississippi Library Association and the American Library Association have spoken out about executive orders and ongoing budget cuts, expressing that the most important thing to do right now is to go to your local libraries and support. Because in the end, community is the key to any victory, and the future of our libraries depends on it.
“Support libraries. Go to events. Donate,” says Brannock. “Libraries and librarians are not out to get people or push an agenda. We just want to provide resources to people.”
