National Library Week starts April 6, 2025, and this week, we celebrate how libraries help people find and use information and make sure everyone on campus has access to the resources they need. Libraries offer more than just books. They provide safe, judgment-free spaces for learning, access to technology, job search assistance, cultural enrichment programs, and lifelong education.
During National Library Week, we celebrate these contributions and reaffirm the essential role libraries and library workers play in shaping equitable, informed, and empowered communities. Reflecting on the history of libraries, access was not always available to certain populations, as laws often restricted entry and made reading and learning nearly impossible. Educational apartheid created an environment where literacy was systematically obstructed, limiting access to quality education and future opportunities. This year’s celebration of National Library Week arrives during a time of profound concern and uncertainty.
The recent executive order issued on March 14, 2025, aiming to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), has significant implications for libraries and museums across the United States, including those in Texas. The IMLS provides essential funding for various programs that support education, cultural preservation, and community engagement. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) received over $12 million from IMLS in the last fiscal year to support critical statewide programs, including the TexShare Databases, which provide Texans with access to academic journals, educational resources, and legal information. Libraries, such as the Harris County Public Library, depend on this funding to cover the majority of the cost of these resources—resources that would otherwise be inaccessible to many patrons.
At Prairie View A&M University, the John B. Coleman Library has benefited from grants funded by the IMLS, enhancing its archival and research capabilities and the professional development of librarians. In 2024, the library collaborated with the Digital PV Panther Project and the Waller County Historical Commission to secure a Texas Treasures grant from the Texas State Library & Archives Commission. This grant, supported by the IMLS, aimed to prevent the erasure of Black history in Texas. It funded the hiring of four undergraduate students majoring in social sciences, the acquisition of a 32-terabyte server for digital storage, and the purchase of archival supplies to process and digitize several manuscript collections within the library’s archives. This initiative was built upon a previous 2021 Texas Treasures grant, which had already facilitated the processing and creation of finding aids for over 30 manuscript collections.
IMLS grants have provided funds for several library technology and research projects. In August 2024, PVAMU’s John B. Coleman Library was part of a team that received a National Leadership Grant from the IMLS to create a Research Data Management System. This grant supports the development of infrastructure and services to manage research data effectively, thereby enhancing the library’s role in supporting academic research and data preservation.
Elizabeth Jean Brumfield, Ph.D.
Additionally, several John B. Coleman librarians have, over the years, been awarded the Digital Library Federation HBCU Fellow Award, funded by an IMLS grant, to attend the annual Digital Library Federation Forum, facilitating professional development and fostering connections with other library professionals. These grants have collectively enhanced the John B. Coleman Library’s ability to preserve historical documents, support academic research, and provide valuable resources to students and the broader community.
As we celebrate libraries during National Library Week, we must also advocate for them. Take advantage of the resources, the programs, and the research assistance. By celebrating this week, the campus community can recognize the contributions of library staff, promote information literacy, and reaffirm the importance of equitable access to knowledge for all.
Dr. Elizabeth Jean Brumfield is a distance services librarian at Prairie View A&M University.