A bill that would take Enrich Iowa funds away from public libraries made it through the Iowa Legislature funnel.

House File 284 (HF284) would take the grant funds from libraries if there are memberships to organizations which promote legislation, such as the Iowa Library Association and the American Library Association (ALA).

In 2025, there are five Marshall County libraries receiving varying amounts of Enrich Iowa funds — Marshalltown, which received $14,789; Melbourne, $1,442; Albion, $1,567; Gilman, $1,234 and; Gutekunst in State Center, $2,224.

Marshalltown Public Library (MPL) Director Sarah Rosenblum is a member of the ALA. She said the ALA and ILA are organizations for libraries to provide opportunities for learning, professional development and library funding.

“The community of Marshalltown has benefited from the American Library Association,” Rosenblum said. “The library hosted the Americans and the Holocaust national traveling exhibition as well as received funds for public programming about the topic as a grant from the American Library Association. This exhibition brought over 10,000 visitors to Marshalltown. Belonging to the American Library Association for a librarian serves the same purpose as a doctor belonging to the American Medical Association or a lawyer belonging to the American Bar Association.”

Whether or not the membership in the organizations will be retained is not something that has been decided yet.

“We will have to look at the final form of any legislation that passes to determine how we would respond,” Rosenblum said.

According to Rosenblum, the library has received the same amount of Enrich Iowa funds every year since she has been in the position. That money has been used to help support library operations, including staffing expenses.

“The possible loss of these funds would have to be factored into the budget process,” she said. “It is doubtful that the city’s general fund would be able to make up this shortfall.”

Melbourne Public Library Director Brittany Brewer, who is a member of the ILA, said they have received $1,442 since 2022, when she became director.

“We have used them for a variety of things such as a new rug for our main seating area, new desks for patron computers, books, DVDs and board games for the collection,” she said.

If Melbourne was to lose those funds, it would have a significant impact.

“We are a small library which depends on every dollar we receive to purchase material for our collection, keep our technology up-to-date and offer programming for people of all walks of life who enter through our doors,” Brewer said.

Enrich Iowa is made of three programs to help libraries to improve services. The programs are:

• Open Access which gives people direct access to check out materials;

• Direct State Aid to improve services and reduce community inequities and;

• Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement to give people equal access to resources through support of material loans.

During the January Friends of the Library meeting, Rosenblum expressed her fear over the legislative year. In 2024, a new state law took city levies away from libraries, leading to a loss of funds.

“I think this is a difficult time for publicly funded entities,” she said. “I am concerned about how the city will be able to fund essential services including library service.”

Rosenblum hopes Marshalltown residents are aware of the actions the legislature has taken that will affect them. She encouraged people to contact their legislators to let them know about issues they are concerned about.

“I greatly appreciate the public’s support of the library,” she said. “Community is at the heart of the Marshalltown Public Library.”

Brewer hopes HF284 does not pass but is confident in the support of the community if it does.

“The Melbourne community loves its library,” she said. “I have no doubt that we would have our community rally behind us to help with fundraising to help us remain the pillar in the community that we are.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 2310 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.