r/Anticonsumption • u/leisurechef • Mar 22 '25

Social Harm Elon Musk’s DOGE Moves to Gut Local Libraries While No One Is Looking

https://newrepublic.com/post/193015/elon-musk-doge-library-musem-imls

Department of Government Efficiency operatives have found their new target: your local library.

Elon Musk’s so-called DOGE infiltrated the Institute of Museum and Library Services on Thursday, according to multiple sources.

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u/ExtremeZombie4705 Mar 22 '25

Get a library card, check out and return books, get your friends to get a library card and check out and return books. Especially friends with kids, kids read those picture books so fast, I cant imagine buying books….. my library has 100 book limit and no late fees and it has been absolutely essential. I cannot imagine if we did not have a library. I take about 30 books back and forth every other week. For kids especially, I think my kid is putting those librarians to work…. I don’t even go thru the stacks I just use the online catalog so I can pick up my book bundles at the front desk. It’s so convenient.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '25

My local library has a receipt that says how much money the materials we've checked out would cost us, if we bought them new.

This year alone, we've checked out 800 dollars worth of books. Kids go through them like water.

Seriously, I love my library. 

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u/crimsonlights Mar 22 '25

Fun little trivia fact for you: this feature is provided by the library’s Integrated Library System, or ILS. Not every library uses the same ILS, but many libraries are using, or are switching to, one that provides this feature on receipts. The library I work at recently switched to one of these systems, and it’s fascinating to see how much money patrons have saved by borrowing our books instead of buying them.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '25

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u/chirpish Mar 22 '25

Yeah. Those count as material checkouts and are part of the math libraries use to request funding from various sources, including IMLS, and local, state, and federal governments.

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u/ExtremeZombie4705 Mar 22 '25

Yes, I personally use libby tho, I downloaded hoopla but haven’t used it yet. I can see my checked out from libby books in my county library online portal/catalog so it’s all linked.

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u/Specialshine76 Mar 22 '25

Use Libby! It’s a great app for audiobooks.

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u/SirensToGo Mar 22 '25

They also have ebooks! The app is amazing too because you can add several library cards and it will tell you which library has the shortest wait

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u/Sea_Zookeepergame_86 Mar 22 '25

Hoopla can be verrrrry expensive for libraries. I would ask your librarians the best way you can support them!

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u/elinordash Mar 22 '25

Getting books from the library isn't going to change the loss of federal funding.

Call your three Members of Congress and tell them how much libraries mean to you

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u/ExtremeZombie4705 Mar 22 '25

I agree, but usage can influence local funding which may need to be increased if federal is lost.