This article is part of a series on how federal budget cuts are affecting Brookline and the high school.
Every spring, thousands of history students at the high school sit down to write their final research paper. A critical part of the project is using historical sources to construct a well-researched argument, but next year, that process will become more difficult for students.
On March 14, President Trump signed an executive order that eliminates nearly all funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Last fiscal year, the IMLS distributed $3.6 million “to support statewide library services and grants to local libraries,” according to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Without this federal backing, libraries across Massachusetts, including Brookline, may not be able to maintain their current services.
The high school will lose access to several academic resources, such as the archives of the Boston Globe, numerous Gale databases and Peterson’s Career and Test Prep, according to the MBLC. In a joint email statement to the Cypress, the high school’s librarians, Maura McGill, Bridget Knightly, Shelley Mains and Molly Wallner expressed concerns about the impact of these cuts on students.
“Losing these databases will make it harder for students to find reliable, high-quality sources for projects, papers and assignments. The impact on research-heavy classes will be especially challenging,” the librarians wrote. “These tools also support Advanced Placement (AP) courses, college prep and student access to information outside of school hours. Without them, students may have to rely more on open internet searches, which aren’t always accurate or academic.”
The IMLS is critical for ensuring everyone can get information, according to Nancy Weiss, who served as the general counsel of IMLS from 1999-2015.
“IMLS is the key federal funder of libraries. The founders of our country recognized the role of both schools and libraries in supporting our democracy and providing everyone with the means for education and economic development,” Weiss said.
Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Jen Martin said she is uncertain of how exactly students will be impacted, but thinks the outcome will be negative.
“Obviously, any loss of access to databases will have a net negative impact on students because it will limit their access to reliable sources to conduct research,” Martin said.
Sophomore Alan Imambek said he specifically has concerns about the loss of Gale databases that provide social studies background information and how it will impact his future work in history class.
“I’ve used Gale to find reliable sources for history papers,” Imambek said. “With it going away, it will be harder to find reliable sources. Gale is a convenient database for me, with trusted sources that are easy to use.”
Weiss said that IMLS plays a unique role in supporting the American school library system.
“IMLS has invested in openly-licensed educational materials to help ensure that teachers and students have access to information that can be tailored to meet the needs of the classroom,” Weiss said.
The librarians wrote that they are “deeply disappointed” about these cuts and the consequences they will have.
“This decision feels like a step backward,” the librarians wrote. “Equal access to quality information is critical for education and civic engagement, and this funding cut takes away tools that level the playing field for all students.”
