Susan Banks, Deupty Secretary and State Librarian

Greetings, Colleagues –

You may have heard about the Executive Order issued by the White House on 3/14 calling for a reduction in workforce at seven agencies, one of which was the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) from which OCL receives our Grants to States LSTA funding. We received reassurance from the IMLS  that because of the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress, our 10/2024-9/2025 award is still available to us and that they expect our 10/2025-9/2026 award to be ready for commitment later in April. We have some breathing room, in any case.

There is a caveat – in current circumstances, chances are slim but not zero that there may be an action or change from elsewhere in the federal government that would complicate matters.  We are not going to let that dampen our spirits. While we may not have all the answers right now, please know that we are focused on planning for different outcomes. Your continued focus, collaboration, and support for one another will help us navigate these uncertain times. Together, we will find our way forward and emerge even stronger.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenging environment we are all navigating right now. There are many unknowns, and it can feel uncertain at times, but I want to assure you that we are in this together. Your dedication, hard work, and resilience during these times are truly appreciated. Hang in there, keep doing the right things and we’ll keep you posted on any news that comes to us from DC.

My thanks go out to Heather Sharpe, Director of Library Development whose encouraging words helped build this message.

Thank you for everything you do to serve the people of Pennsylvania with the best of library services. Your work keeps our communities improving – together.

Susan Banks | Deputy Secretary, Commissioner for Libraries, and State Librarian
Pennsylvania Department of Education | Office of Commonwealth Libraries
607 South Drive | Harrisburg, PA  17120
Phone: 717-214-4046 | https://www.pa.gov/agencies/statelibrary.html

This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Carrie Cleary, Executive Assistant  (ccleary@pa.gov; 717-783-5725).