Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) infiltrated the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on March 20. In the flurry of raids and dismantling of government agencies you probably overlooked this egregious act. Don’t. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for U.S. libraries and museums. The agency supports them through grants, research and policy development. The agency has about 75 employees and half of them will be terminated. I live in Easthampton and the local library has been instrumental in providing not only books but courses, book clubs, story times for toddlers, and computer workstations. Over 3,000 people use this library each year. Although books are not being burned literally, conceptually they are being obliterated.

Lillian Cartwright

Easthampton