In a letter to Congress, four of the Big Five publishers are urging Congress to restore the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which has been targeted for closure by a Trump administration executive order. In the April 3 letter, Hachette, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, along with indie Sourcebooks, in which PRH owns a majority stake, expressed “deep concern” over the administration’s March 14 directive.
“We call on you to reject the executive order to close IMLS and to restore its funding,” the letter concludes. “Allowing the IMLS to be defunded, and thus to disappear, would leave millions of Americans without access to the books, tools, and other resources required to participate in the modern world. Shuttering IMLS would be an act of monumental neglect, violating the very foundation of America and what it stands for as a country. It would undermine the tenets of our democracy and our citizens’ right to read, think, and learn freely. As President William McKinley once said, ‘the free man cannot be long an ignorant man.’”
In the letter, the publishers express their “unwavering” support for libraries and for the work of the IMLS.
“Every American has the right to access information and books that showcase a diversity of perspectives and experiences. Books build empathy, offer knowledge, and explore complex topics in long form. Libraries are essential community hubs that provide free access to these valuable tools and resources. Defunding libraries would result in mass closures and the destruction of a system that today benefits millions of Americans,” the letter states. “Join us in standing with libraries and the communities they serve. The future of our nation depends on it.”
Notably, HarperCollins, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. was the only Big Five publisher not to sign the letter. As of this writing, HarperCollins reps have yet to respond to a request for comment.
