EVANSVILLE — Libraries in Indiana are still navigating how cuts at the federal and state level will impact them, but there are already programs on the chopping block.
The Courier & Press reached out to the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library to request a phone or in-person interview on the impact Indiana's property tax bill would have on the system. Instead, EVPL CEO Scott Kinney sent a short, written statement in response.
"EVPL administration continues to monitor all library-related bills, including Senate Bill 1," he said. "Since the official passing of SB1, we are evaluating how we will be affected and are in conversation with our municipal financial advisors regarding potential impacts."
Under SB1, EVPL will lose an estimated $864,360 in property tax revenue in 2026; $939,340 in 2027 and $1,149,840 in 2028.
Both local GOP Sens. Vaneta Becker and Jim Tomes voted no on SB 1. In the House, Rep. Alex Burton voted against it last week. The other Evansville-area House members voted in favor of it. Those were Reps. Cindy Ledbetter, Tim O'Brien, Wendy McNamara and Matt Hostettler.
Brooke Bolton, director of the Boonville-Warrick County Public Library system which serves Boonville, Lynnville, Elberfeld, and Tennyson, shared in a public Facebook post how both federal and state cuts will hurt her library.
"I know you've seen the news, and I know people are struggling with so many cuts in funding that will do harm to them or ones they love, but libraries are taking major hits, too," she posted.
The Courier & Press asked Bolton for an interview to expand on her post, and she said at this point she did not have additional comment.
Federally, the executive order signed by President Donald Trump cutting the Institute of Museums and Libraries will cause her library to lose INSPIRE, which contains databases such as Rosetta Stone and test/career prep materials.
"One of these databases alone is too much for our library, or hardly any in Indiana or the country, to cover in their own budget," Bolton stated.
According to reporting from Politico, Trump’s order directed the IMLS “be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."
Bolton wrote in her post, which has now been shared more than 1,000 times, that interlibrary loans will be gone due to a loss of funding for the courier service. Patrons will no longer be able to have books from other libraries sent to the one that's easier for them to access.
There will also be cut to a federal funding program called e-rate. Bolton said this money is used to cover around 80% of the library system's cost to supply internet, wi-fi and other related equipment.
"Our library will be required to pick up the 80% that was discounted," she stated. "Patrons rely heavily on internet access in the library, especially since most things have been moved to online-only, like applying for jobs, government assistance, etc."
A major concern for library lovers is the loss of Libby/Overdrive. It supplies e-books and e-audiobooks. The Boonville-Warrick County Public Library system is part of a statewide consortium, according to Bolton.
"Though we pay into it, we use the resources of everyone within the state's consortium," she said. "Without our Libby/Overdrive consortium, our access to e-books and e-audiobooks would be basically zero."
State cuts will also hurt the Boonville library system. The fiscal note for SB1 shows losses of $67,740 in property tax revenue for 2026; $74,000 in 2027; and $78,420 in 2028.
"Federal and state cuts are going to hurt the small, rural libraries the most. I will have to cut back significantly, and in the ten years I’ve been here, I’ve been very fiscally conservative," Bolton said. "I honestly can't say what stability lies ahead for us, from services for patrons down to employment, if things continue down this road."
What are the estimated property tax cuts to other local libraries?
Newburgh-Ohio Township Public library is facing losses of $224,970 of property tax revenue in 2026; $228,620 in 2027; and $234,170 in 2028.
In Posey County, both library systems will see cuts to their property tax revenue starting next year.
Poseyville Carnegie Library:
Loss of $18,860 in 2026
Loss of $19,700 in 2027
Loss of $20,310 in 2028
Alexandrian Free Public Library:
Loss of $61,580 in 2026
Loss of $63,210 in 2027
Loss of $65,490 in 2028