This past weekend, a presidential executive order was issued that takes direct aim at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the federal agency responsible for supporting libraries and museums across the country. Today, just days after that announcement, I taught a workshop on systems thinking to library staff, focusing on how interconnected structures shape decision-making and long-term outcomes. The timing was striking because if there was ever a moment that called for systems thinking, dialogue, and advocacy, it’s now.

For those unfamiliar, IMLS was created in 1996 to provide critical funding, research, and leadership for libraries and museums. The agency supports literacy programs, digital inclusion efforts, workforce development initiatives, and grants that help libraries innovate and serve their communities.

The executive order threatens to weaken or eliminate this essential support, and while some might see this as an isolated budgetary move, systems thinking tells us otherwise. The loss of IMLS wouldn’t just affect one agency—it would send ripple effects throughout education, workforce development, and access to knowledge across the country.

Challenging Assumptions About Libraries

One of the biggest barriers to understanding why this matters is that many people hold outdated assumptions about libraries. Some of the most common include:

🔹 “Libraries are just about books.” – Libraries provide technology access, workforce training, community resources, and social services in addition to books.

🔹 “People don’t need libraries because of the internet.” – Not everyone has home internet access or digital literacy skills to navigate online resources effectively. Libraries help bridge the digital divide.

🔹 “Libraries are only for kids and students.” – Libraries serve all ages, offering job training, healthcare navigation support, business resources, and services for seniors.

🔹 “If libraries were important, local governments would fund them.” – Many libraries, especially rural and underserved ones, depend on federal funding to sustain vital programs. State and local budgets alone cannot fill the gap.

These mental models lead to flawed policy decisions because they fail to recognize the full system in which libraries operate.

The Ripple Effect: Understanding Systems Thinking

At its core, systems thinking, as described by Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline, teaches us to look beyond single events and recognize patterns, structures, and root causes. Instead of reacting to one decision in isolation, systems thinking helps us ask:

✔ What larger system is at play here?
✔ What unintended consequences will follow?
✔ How do different parts of this system interact?

Too often, policies like this are made without considering their full impact. Cutting IMLS funding isn’t just a decision about library budgets—it’s a structural shift that will affect:

🔹 Early childhood education, where libraries play a critical role in literacy development.
🔹 Access to technology and digital resources, especially in rural and underserved communities.
🔹 Job training and workforce development, where libraries help bridge skill gaps.
🔹 Community resilience, as libraries provide everything from disaster recovery support to mental health resources.

The Ladder of Inference: Why We Jump to the Wrong Conclusions

One reason why some people don’t see the full picture is because of what Chris Argyris calls the Ladder of Inference—a mental model that explains how we quickly make assumptions based on limited data.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ We observe a small piece of reality (e.g., “Libraries have local funding.”)
2️⃣ We filter out broader context (e.g., ignoring that many libraries rely on IMLS grants to survive.)
3️⃣ We interpret based on assumptions (e.g., “If libraries matter, their communities will fund them.”)
4️⃣ We jump to conclusions and act accordingly (e.g., deciding that eliminating IMLS won’t have real consequences.)

This mental shortcut leads to flawed decision-making because it ignores the full system. We can’t just assume that state and local governments will magically fill the gap. Many libraries—especially in rural and underfunded areas—depend on IMLS support to provide essential services.

If we apply systems thinking, we see the bigger picture:

✔ A rural library loses an IMLS-funded broadband program → fewer job seekers can apply for positions online → local unemployment rises.
✔ A public library loses IMLS support for summer reading → fewer children maintain literacy skills over the summer → lower academic performance in the fall.
✔ A state library loses grant funding for professional development → fewer librarians receive training on digital literacy → more people struggle to navigate online healthcare and government services.

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios—they are the real-world consequences of cutting IMLS.

Why Dialogue and Storytelling Matter in Advocacy

One of the most important lessons of systems thinking is that change doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens through conversation. This is why dialogue is critical in moments like this.

Senge emphasizes that true learning organizations thrive on dialogue, not just debate. Dialogue isn’t about proving who is right—it’s about listening, sharing perspectives, and uncovering deeper truths. Right now, the future of libraries depends on our ability to engage in meaningful conversations.

We Need to Tell Our Stories

People don’t connect with statistics—they connect with stories. If we want to shift public perception and policy, we must share the human impact of libraries:

✔ The child who learns to read because of a library’s early literacy program.
✔ The job seeker who lands a new career after attending a library’s resume workshop.
✔ The older adult who stays connected with loved ones through a library’s digital literacy classes.

When we share stories, we make the invisible visible. We challenge flawed mental models and help people see the real impact of decisions that might otherwise seem abstract.

What Can We Do?

The decision to target IMLS is not just about funding—it’s about priorities. If we believe that libraries are essential to lifelong learning, education, and community development, we must speak up.

Here’s how you can help:

1️⃣ Share your story. How has a library helped you or your community? Post it in the comments, write a blog, or share it on social media.
2️⃣ Share this post. The more people understand what’s at stake, the stronger our collective voice becomes.
3️⃣ Talk to your representatives. Contact your elected officials and tell them why IMLS funding is vital.
4️⃣ Engage in conversations. Challenge outdated assumptions about libraries and advocate for their role in education, technology access, workforce development, and social services.

Libraries aren’t obsolete—they are evolving. But their evolution requires investment, support, and understanding. If we fail to apply systems thinking, dialogue, and advocacy, we risk making short-sighted decisions with long-term consequences.

Now is the time to challenge flawed narratives, think bigger, and take action. Libraries are not just community fixtures—they are critical infrastructure for education, technology access, social services, and economic development.

Let’s make sure the system that supports them remains strong.

Comment below with your library story, share this post, and help spread the word.