So I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the most recent "Statewide Office Hours for ILL, hosted by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC)" earlier this week.
While everyone already knows the contract between TSLAC and Auto-Graphics, Inc is paid up thru end of December 2025 for access to the Texas Armadillo Network for Interlibrary Loan (our portal access to the ShareIt system for ILL)....
Our contacts at TSLAC did disclose that preserving Interlibrary Loan access is a top priority of TSLAC and they were committed to renewing the Auto-Graphics, Inc. contract for FY2026 as well.
Absent restoration of IMLS funding, though, this indicates to me that TSLAC will be reorganizing its own budget and making internal cuts to come up with the funding to keep Interlibrary Loan viable for Texas public libraries. But those internal cuts could well fall on the even more vulnerable, like, say, TSLAC's talking book program for the visually impaired. I don't KNOW that will happen, just floating it as a speculative possibility of the below referenced ALA lawsuit drags on past December 2025 and we get into budgetary crunch time. Best case scenario, the courts force IMLS to rehire personnel and honor existing grants and continue granting new ones. But absent that, the money has to come from somewhere and we might not like where TSLAC decides to drop the axe, their hand forced by domestic cyber-terror unit DOGE. They could always petition the Texas Legislature to pony up the lost funds, but I don't think that is likely to happen. DOGE caused this because DOGE are vandals and cyber-terrorists. Buncha cyber-Nazis if you ask me.
Then there's all the blatantly unconstitutional legislation that could impact library policies in the immediate future with respect to book and digital collections. I believe it was Mark Twain who once said: “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.”
Especially the Texas Legislature, sweet Jeezus.
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