Access to 16 of 21 databases across the local library system were impacted by a loss of money through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Since then, the Framingham Turkey Classic Road Race and the Friends of the Framingham Library have stepped in to help.
FRAMINGHAM - Following cuts from the federal level, the Framingham Public Library recently lost access to a wide range of databases for residents to utilize. However, community members have since stepped in to provide assistance in order to preserve some of these resources.
The library announced at the end of June that the loss of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) money resulted in access to 16 databases being shuttered across its network.
Those resources include the Boston Globe Article Archive, Britannica Moderna, and a variety of educational and research-oriented databases from Gale and Peterson’s. IMLS funding cuts were part of an executive order signed by signed by President Donald Trump in March to “(continue) the reduction of the federal bureaucracy.”
Framingham Public Library Director Dawn Dellasanta told The Frame that since the state budget and federal budget timelines differ, Massachusetts officials had to anticipate a reduction to federal IMLS dollars while preparing their own budget projections. News of the cuts, which Dellasanta mentioned totaled about $3.5 million in Massachusetts, came two weeks prior to the start of Framingham’s fiscal year on July 1.
“The worst cuts were the databases that are the most frequently used by Framingham students,” Dellasanta said in an interview with The Frame.
“The school system relies really heavily on a set of Gale databases…Those were cut, and this is where students go in and they do their research and peer review documents; this is where kids learn how to research.”
Some database access has been retained locally in spite of the funding losses, however. Five Gale databases focusing on history, literature, global issues, and biographies will still be made available to the community. Dellasanta said those databases are the most frequently used ones by local students, making them a priority to salvage.
Dellasanta credited assistance from the Friends of the Framingham Library, the Framingham Veterans Council, and proceeds from the Framingham Turkey Classic Road Race for providing the necessary resources to keep some of these databases, as she thanked those groups for being part of a “community effort.”
Chair of the Veterans Council Bob Downing—who also helps run the road race alongside Framingham firefighter Tim Campion—explained that the group was made aware of the issue while speaking with Dellasanta, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. Through the road race’s collections, $1,000 was provided to the Framingham Public Library.
“Tim and I, we really like to help people,” Downing said.
“When we come across programs like this or other people in need, we like to step in and help them out as best as we can.”
Downing added that he and the road race team are willing to help anyone or any group in need across Framingham.
“We don’t have unlimited funds, but we have some funding we like to spread out through the year,” he continued.
Even with these recent challenges, Dellasanta expressed gratitude to be in a city and state that “loves its libraries,” as she and her team plan for the future.
“I think that we can’t get too lost on what’s happening at a federal level…We’ve just got to keep going,” Dellasanta said.
“We’ve got to keep our eye on the fact that there are people who are going to support us, and we’ll be grateful for that.”
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