SCA stands behind the American Library Association (ALA) and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in challenging the Trump Administration’s executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  

Last week, ALA and AFSCME filed a lawsuit against the administration, asking a federal judge to halt the elimination of programs and services offered by the IMLS. “Libraries play an important role in our democracy, from preserving history to providing access to government information, advancing literacy and civic engagement, and offering access to a variety of perspectives,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “These values are worth defending. We will not allow extremists to threaten our democracy by eliminating programs at IMLS and harming the children and communities who rely on libraries and the services and opportunities they provide.”

You can learn more about the executive order and what you can do to support IMLS on ALA’s website here.

In Solidarity,

Board of Directors of the Society of California Archivists

The Board of Directors of the Society of California Archivists stands by our colleagues at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) during this chaotic and uncertain time. With the unprecedented firing of the Archivist of the United States; the sudden removal of DEI programs, documentation, and guidance across federal agencies; and the threat of widespread federal layoffs; we call on Congress and the courts to protect the vital, nonpartisan role of NARA and uphold the rule of law.

Political interference into NARA's work threatens the transparency and integrity of our nation's documentary heritage.Central to SCA’s core values is the “belief that public notice should be given before removal of any online government information” and a “commitment to offer users free access to information without discrimination.” If you want to learn more about current efforts to preserve public government data, please see the Data Rescue Resource Guide compiled by SCA’s Labor Advocacy and Public Policy Committee. 

This is a constantly evolving situation, but your voice matters!  We urge SCA members and fellow archivists to support our colleagues at NARA by contacting legislators and pushing for accountability, transparency, and support for the important work that they do to “preserve, protect, and share the historical records of the United States to promote public inquiry and strengthen democratic participation.”

In solidarity,

Board of Directors of the Society of California Archivists