IMLS Relocates to Labor Department Building

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced on February 17 that it has relocated to the federally owned Frances Perkins Building, which houses the U.S. Department of Labor. According to a statement, “IMLS’s former lease at 955 L’Enfant Plaza has expired,” necessitating the move. 

In May 2025, IMLS made plans to relocate to the Labor department building, citing “a more compact footprint of leased space,” but renewed its L'Enfant Plaza lease following a preliminary injunction in State of Rhode Island v. Trump. Prior to an executive order that threatened to dismantle IMLS and other agencies, IMLS had a staff of more than 75, which has been reduced by layoffs and voluntary separation agreements.

In an email, an IMLS spokesperson told PW the agency would be “utilizing temporary space” that is “configured for 46 employees.” The spokesperson added that “IMLS will be moving into permanent space, within the building, at the end of the fiscal year.”

Deputy Secretary of Labor and acting IMLS director Keith Sonderling wrote in the statement that the Perkins Building space “not only represents a good value to American taxpayers, but will provide for greater collaboration between IMLS and the Department of Labor on furthering development of the professional museum and library workforces and continuing the President’s mission to renew our federal cultural agencies.” 

IMLS also has announced the 10 recipients of its statutory 2025 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, including Haines Borough (Ak.) public library; Mengle Memorial Library in Brockway, Pa.; Nicholas P. Sims Library in Waxahachie, Tex.; Terrebonne Parish (La.) library system; and Ten Sleep (Wyo.) branch library. A spokesperson said each institution will receive a certificate and a $10,000 grant “awarded during the period of performance from October 2025 to September 30, 2026. Payments are made after each institution submits a payment request.”