What a Renewed Federalism Means for Libraries

摘要

In a time when funding for the sole federal library program is under threat and state and local library funding are under intense revenue pressure, it is important to understand the role that the governmental philosophy of political actors will play in public and tax policy decisions. From the Trump administration to Congress, a coherent and cohesive set of federalist and libertarian approaches will frame the policy and funding debates about the role, scope, and funding of government. This article examines emerging federal policy and budget priorities through the lens of modern political philosophies to discuss how public, school, and academic library communities should anticipate and react to developments.