Programming at the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ (GTB) Heritage Library will likely see significant changes in the months ahead as federal funding cuts continue to affect public libraries and the services they provide.
On March 14, it was announced that President Trump signed an executive order that called for the elimination and reduction of seven government entities, which included the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The federal agency is responsible for distributing congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
In 2024, Michigan received about $8.2 million for 23 IMLS awards, with the majority of that funding going towards grants, museum and library services. GTB’s Heritage Library in Peshawbestown also received in 2024 a Native American Library Services basic grant totaling $10,000 from IMLS.
Tribal Librarian Francis Carew, who has been serving in his position for nearly seven years, said they received a letter that vital library grant funds were being terminated on April 8. The loss of this funding equates to the loss of Carew’s tribal librarian position, as well as monthly cultural/educational programs and activities that were funded by a IMLS enhancement grant.
Carew said while the library will provide programming this month, he’s unsure how much longer they’ll be able to host activities that both tribal and non-tribal community members take part in.
Along with the potential loss of activities, Carew said it breaks down the liaison connection the library helped bridge between the native and non-native communities. Library activities are open to both the public and tribal members, helping to build camaraderie and bring different cultures together in the process, Carew explained.
In addition, the library provides eight desktop computers for public-use, and a unique collection of books focusing on Native American community, self help, child care, children’s books, nature and arts, graphic novels, biographies, language and many more. Audiotapes, video tapes, CD-ROMs, reference books, periodicals, subscriptions, and Internet access are also available.
“That’s why it’s shocking that anybody would want to take away from this kind of stuff because it does help. It helps to bring pride to Native Americans. Like with the winter games, a lot of people have never thrown snowsnakes or even made a snowsnake or even seen a snowsnake, so doing stuff like this really brings that out to the community,” Carew said.
In the meantime, Carew has been working with GTB’s Youth Services, located in the same building next door, as he awaits to learn more about what will happen with the library and his position that’s in limbo. Many of the public activities hosted at the library can be done with the youth through the GTB education department, so Carew said he may end up working with youth services in the future.
“I’m still doing some library stuff and finishing up what we had planned,” he said. “But more than likely, this job here (at the library) is going to end… Working with youth services is similar to what I was doing — it’s all bringing Native American crafts to people — so I feel honored to be able to have done what I’ve done.”
On May 1, it was announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s dismantling of the IMLS. According to a recent American Library Association (ALA) press release, the temporary restraining order was issued days before the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees was set to take effect on May 4.
“The immediate halt to the gutting of IMLS is a win for America’s libraries and the millions of Americans who rely on them. ALA is encouraged that the court recognizes the immediacy of the need for IMLS and library services at risk,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl in a press release. “The temporary restraining order will stop the dismantling of IMLS while the court considers the merits in this case… Even with a temporary restraining order in place, Congress also must act to ensure our nation’s libraries can continue to serve their communities, including by funding IMLS for next year.”
