On March 14, an executive order proposed the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for libraries and museums across the United States. The move sent shockwaves through museum and library systems nationwide, many of which rely on IMLS funding to provide a wide range of services from early learning and literacy to workforce readiness and training, and much more.
Naturally, questions followed here in Truckee: What will this mean for our local library? Will our beloved programs be cut? And what does this mean for the long-hoped-for new Truckee Regional Library?
Here’s the simple answer: In Truckee, we have already said yes. Yes to library access. Yes to literacy. Yes to community.
In 2016, the voters of Nevada County overwhelmingly approved Measure A, a quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to sustaining and expanding library services. Thanks to this bold local action, 85% of our library programming is funded through Measure A, not federal sources. This means that while libraries elsewhere may now face devastating cuts, our community made a decision years ago that continues to protect and uplift our local library today.
That is something to be proud of.
But let’s be clear — Measure A funds the operations of our existing library system. It allows us to keep the doors open, the shelves full, and the programs vibrant. It does not fund the construction of a new library. And that’s where we still have work to do.
Because while our programming is strong, the space itself is constraining. Our current library was built 50 years ago to serve a population of 2,000. Today, more than 15,000 people hold library cards in Truckee. The math speaks for itself; so does the movement. Across our community, a powerful, grassroots campaign is growing to build a library that meets the needs of today’s Truckee, and tomorrow’s.
Why does this matter?
Because a library is not just a building. It is a place of belonging. It’s where toddlers find their first stories and teens find safe spaces to study, connect, and grow. It’s where adults discover new skills, job seekers find resources, and seniors stay engaged. In times of crisis, it will be our community’s emergency resource center. Libraries are not relics of a paper-based past; they are dynamic, evolving centers of community well-being.
Truckee understands this. We’ve shown it again and again. And in a moment when national support is wavering, we’ve already made the local choice to protect what matters. The loss of IMLS funding is tragic, and many communities will feel that loss deeply. But here in Truckee, we are charting a different course. One grounded in local investment, community pride, and a shared vision for the future.
We said yes once. And we’ll say it again.
Let’s continue to honor our library — not just as a place, but as a promise to each other.
To learn more about the grassroots effort to build a new library and to join the movement, visit Friends of the Truckee Library at truckeefol.org.
~ April Cole is the executive director of Friends of the Truckee Library and leads the advocacy efforts for a new Truckee library. A dedicated community volunteer, April is a former Rotary Club president and was recently named Truckee Woman of the Year by Sen. Alvarado-Gil’s office.
