How are DOGE cuts affecting Las Vegas libraries?

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - An executive order issued last month put funding for libraries across the country on the chopping block. FOX5 is checking on valley libraries to see how funding cuts might impact public programs and resources.

President Donald Trump issued the order on March 14 as part of his effort to scale back “Federal bureaucracies” that he deemed “unnecessary.” One organization being targeted for possible cuts is the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency that supports libraries, archives, and museums in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, which oversees libraries across the valley, tells FOX5 that “external legal counsel” has advised the district to revise its DEIA initiatives or risk losing millions in federal funding.

The district says it has only adjusted its internal structures, not its public programs or library materials. Additionally, no staff jobs will be impacted.

The district also provided a list of its programs and resources funded in total or part by IMLS:

Digital Collection: $234,000
Cell Phone Lending Program: $199,996. This program earned the Library District the 2023 ALA Library of the Future Award
Discovery Children’s Museum Passes: $55,000
Launchpad Learning Tablets: $140,000
Nevada Career Explorer job skills resource: $100,000
Countdown to Kindergarten: $100,000. A resource to help parents and caregivers prepare kids for school.
Soundproof Study Pods: $55,167 at Windmill, West Charleston, Sahara West, and Rainbow libraries
The Library at Sunrise Children’s Hospital Book vending machine: $74,148
Media Box Multimedia Vending Machine at East Las Vegas Library: $74,950

Read the full statement from LV-CC Library District below:

“The Library District’s commitment to fostering a positive, respectful, and welcoming environment for our valued staff and customers remains unchanged.
However, due to recent Federal mandates, all public entities that receive federal funding must eliminate DEIA employee initiatives. On the advice of our external legal counsel, we were told to make preemptive adjustments to ensure compliance with updated regulations regarding DEIA policies and procedures. These are adjustments to our internal structures, not our public programs or our library materials.
The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is the recipient of significant federal funding and noncompliance with these orders would place potentially millions of dollars at risk, creating a huge negative impact on our operations. Like thousands of public entities across the country, who receive federal dollars, we are having to take steps to protect one of our most important revenue streams, so that we can protect our ability to serve our communities. I want to emphasize that no Library District public programming, no library materials, no in-branch displays, and no staff jobs will be impacted by these steps.”