FEATURE
How Mississippi Libraries Are Staying Strong After Federal Cuts
by Erin Busbea
| This funding loss has reminded libraries across Mississippi that digital access is not an optional service. It is as essential as keeping the lights on and the shelves stocked. |
When news broke in spring 2025 that IMLS was suspending federal funding, it hit small libraries across the country like a punch to the gut. Overnight, services we have relied on to reach our communities, including digital collections, interlibrary loan, and shared technology resources, suddenly became uncertain. For those of us leading library systems in Mississippi, it was more than a budget issue; it was personal. The library is where so many people in our communities go to learn, connect, and access opportunities they might not have anywhere else. When the digital side of that access disappears—especially in rural and small communities—the impact is felt immediately and deeply.
After the announcement, several local and state media outlets reached out to learn how the funding cuts were affecting libraries in our area. Before long, national reporters were calling too, wanting to understand what these changes meant on the ground in a state such as Mississippi, a place that is so often misunderstood. A quote attributed to William Faulkner is, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi,” and that could not feel truer than right now. Our libraries reflect both the challenges and the deep resilience of this state, showing what happens when communities refuse to give up on one another. I shared what we were facing at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System, which serves a diverse community that includes the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, the Mississippi University for Women, both city and county school districts, and several private schools and daycares. What this moment has shown is something I already knew about Mississippi libraries: We are resilient and creative, and when funding shrinks or even disappears, we do not shut down—we continue to find a way forward.
Making It Work Anyway
When hoopla Digital—one of our digital streaming platforms funded by IMLS through the Mississippi Library Commission—suddenly went dark, the phone calls began. Patrons who listen to audiobooks on their commutes, homebound seniors who read on tablets, and families who check out ebooks for bedtime stories all wanted to know what happened. We explained that the issue was tied to federal funding and beyond our control, but it was hard to hear the disappointment in the voices of people who rely on these services every day.
Beyond the logistical problems, this exposed something deeper: It showed just how fragile library budgets can be in Mississippi. Many of the digital tools people take for granted exist only because of shared funding at the federal and state level. When that rug is pulled out, local systems are left to fill the gap, and most of us do not have much cushion to do that. If there is one thing I can say for certain, it is that Mississippi librarians do not back down easily. Across the state, library directors, staffers, and boards started asking the same question: How do we make this work anyway?
Library systems have had to take a hard look at their budgets and make difficult choices. Many of us met with city and county funders to explain the situation, to talk about the real people affected—the students, seniors, and families who rely on digital access every day—and to make clear that these services are not a luxury, but are instead a necessity in our communities. Libraries across the state have revisited their budgets repeatedly, shifting priorities and making trade-offs to keep digital access available. It has meant tightening already lean budgets, delaying other purchases, and scaling back where needed. Still, every conversation has been grounded in the same shared belief: Access to information and opportunity matter deeply to the people we serve.
Library Resilience
Mississippi libraries are built on collaboration. When the cuts hit, libraries across the state strengthened those partnerships even further. Many worked with local schools to promote the digital access that remained and to encourage students and families to make the most of it. Partnerships like these take time to build, but they have become one of the best ways for Mississippi libraries to stretch limited dollars while still reaching the people who need them most.
Libraries turned to other grant opportunities and community support to help fill the gaps left by federal cuts. Local Friends of the Library groups, businesses, and individual donors stepped up to sustain digital resources and keep vital services going. In several communities, local sponsors helped underwrite digital collections or support technology access. These were small but meaningful gestures that made a real difference. No one expects these local efforts to replace federal funding, but they do show us what can happen when Mississippi communities rally around their libraries.
Instead of cutting services entirely, libraries looked for smaller-scale solutions. Some reduced hoopla checkouts to save a little money, others paused interlibrary loan borrowing due to shortfalls in postage funding previously covered by a transport grant provided through IMLS, and many found creative ways to help patrons continue accessing free online resources. None of it was perfect, but it was possible. That same mindset has guided libraries across Mississippi, doing what we can even when we can’t do it all.
Resilience is not just about making big moves. It is about showing up every day and doing the work that keeps things running. Across the state, library staffers have put in countless extra hours to answer patron questions and help people find new ways to access what they need. They have taught patrons how to use public domain resources and download OA titles, while continuing to provide the steady support their communities depend on. Through it all, for the most part, morale has stayed strong. That says a lot about the people who choose library work in Mississippi. We adapt, care, and keep going.
This funding loss has reminded libraries across Mississippi that digital access is not an optional service. It is as essential as keeping the lights on and the shelves stocked. In many communities, especially rural ones, the library is often the only dependable point of connection. Our Wi-Fi keeps job seekers submitting applications, students finishing homework, and parents managing the everyday demands of a digital world. When those online platforms and resources are reduced or suspended, it isn’t just a matter of convenience—it is a loss of opportunity.
Long-Term Support Matters Most
Also of importance is equity in these communities. When federal funds disappear, the people who feel it most are those with the fewest alternatives. They are the residents without home internet, without extra income for subscriptions, and without easy transportation. Mississippi libraries exist to close those gaps, not widen them. Even in the face of uncertainty, libraries across the state continue to connect people with information, education, and community. That commitment has never wavered, and it is what keeps our libraries strong even when funding does not.
The past year has taught Mississippi libraries a great deal about adaptability and perseverance. Planning and staying connected have made all the difference when resources suddenly change. Libraries have learned to plan for uncertainty, to track their impact through both data and personal stories, and to strengthen relationships with local governments, schools, and community partners. They have sought out new funding sources and stayed transparent with their communities about the challenges they face.
Mississippi libraries have proven they can adapt and persevere, but no amount of creativity can replace stable, long-term support. Local efforts have kept essential services going, but lasting resilience will require change at higher levels. Federal agencies such as IMLS need consistent protection from political shifts so libraries can plan responsibly and ensure that vital digital access does not disappear overnight. Vendors should also recognize the financial realities of small and rural systems by offering scaled pricing, budget-friendly consortia models, and more flexible licensing options. Investment in broadband infrastructure, device lending, and digital literacy programs must be treated with the same importance as maintaining buildings and collections. Finally, statewide and regional safety nets, such as emergency funding reserves, would help libraries weather disruptions without sacrificing essential services. Mississippi libraries continue to do everything possible to meet community needs, but we should not have to do it alone. A more stable foundation at the federal, state, and local levels would allow libraries to focus less on survival and more on service.
Budgets Don’t Define Libraries
This has been a challenging year, but Mississippi libraries have proven their strength again and again. Even with limited resources and uncertain funding, library staffers across the state have continued to show up for their communities. They have found ways to keep people reading, learning, and connecting, often with less support than ever before. Libraries across Mississippi are still helping people apply for jobs, study for tests, connect with family, and find joy in reading, whether through a digital platform or a book pulled from the shelf. The methods may change, but the mission does not.
Mississippi often gets a bad rap. People talk about us, about what we lack, and about how we come in last on so many national lists. What they do not always see is how much strength, creativity, and determination live here. Mississippi may not have the biggest budgets or the newest technology, but what we do have are people who care deeply about one another and about their communities—and our libraries are a reflection of that spirit.
In every corner of the state, libraries are doing work that changes lives. From small-town branches where staffers know every patron by name to larger city libraries that serve thousands each week, Mississippi libraries are proving that we are far from last when it comes to heart and resilience. The past year has reminded us that resilience is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about facing the challenges and working together to find solutions, and I am proud of the work Mississippi libraries have done to make that possible.
If there is one message to take away from all of this, it is that libraries are not defined by their budgets. They are defined by their people, the staff who show up each day and care, the patrons who support and advocate for their local library, and the communities that understand how vital these spaces are to everyday life for everyone. That shared determination runs deep in Mississippi, and it will continue to carry our libraries forward, no matter what comes next.
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