photo credit: Petaluma Historical Library and Museum
The stained glass dome in the Petaluma Historical Library and MuseumThe Petaluma Historical Library and Museum is housed in an old Carnegie Library built in 1904.

Home to one of the largest free-standing stained glass domes in Northern California, the downtown Petaluma building has housed local history exhibits since the late 1970s. And it is facing a major funding crisis.

Stacey Atchley is the executive director of the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum.

"On March 14th, President Trump issued an executive order that would essentially gut the only federal agency dedicated to supporting American museums and libraries, which is the Institute of Museum and Library Services," said Atchley.

Atchley says the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, known by the acronym IMLS, is the primary source of federal support for museums and libraries across the country.

"The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, like many small museums around the country, benefits greatly from IMLS," Atchley said. "Just this past year, we were able to participate in a very prestigious program which is produced by the American Alliance of Museums and that's called the Museum Assessment program. That is directly funded by IMLS."

Atchley says an IMLS grant last year helped them strengthen their operations and plan for the future. They have also requested additional funding to implement the recommendations from the completed assessment.

"The grant request that we have out to IMLS currently represents about 13-percent of our annual budget, which is significant for a small museum like ours and I think cuts to IMLS will impact smaller museums more than larger ones," said Atchley.

She says the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum is asking the community to contact their representatives.

"We're asking everyone to reach out to their congress people to let them know that IMLS funding matters to museums and libraries and that cuts to this agency will have direct impact on the communities that we serve," Atchley said.

Atchley says museums are a vital part of communities, especially for smaller towns like Petaluma.

"Museums are economic drivers," said Atchley. "We increase tourism and spending in our local areas. Museums also promote community well-being. Studies show that museums reduce stress and anxiety when people are there. So it creates a greater sense of well-being in our communities. It creates opportunities to make connections with other people and to understand different viewpoints, which is really important right now."

If the federal grants disappear, Atchley says she is not sure where funding will come from. She recommends the American Alliance of Museums website for information on how to contact your representatives regarding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.