The Maine State Library laid off 13 staff members Wednesday, nearly one-third of its staff, and announced that it would close for two weeks to restructure its operations after the Trump administration indefinitely suspended certain federal funds.

The library last received funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services on March 24 and has not gotten any updates on when — or whether — payments may resume, State Librarian Lori Fisher said in a prepared statement.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the federal agency “unnecessary” and vowing to eliminate or nearly eliminate it. Weeks later, he placed the federal agency’s entire staff on a 90-day leave, sparking fears of impacts to Maine’s libraries and services like interlibrary loan.

The change impacts libraries across the country and acutely threatens access to library services for rural Americans.

The 13 terminated positions in Maine were supported by IMLS funding, which overall makes up around 30% of the State Library’s annual budget, Fisher said. The terminations may be reversed if funding is restored, she said.

“Losing access to this federal funding harms Maine residents and will have negative consequences in communities across the state,” Fisher said in a written statement. “Despite these significant cuts, the Maine State Library remains committed to advancing the mission of libraries in Maine and to serving every library patron to the best of our ability.”

The state library took in more than $1.5 million in federal money during the 2024 fiscal year, Fisher said. It received similar amounts in the two prior years.

Its main office, located on State Street in Augusta, will close for two weeks starting Thursday, Fisher said.

Maine is among more than 20 states suing the federal government over its attempt to shutter IMLS. That suit also challenges Trump’s targeting of the Minority Business Development Agency and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Attorney General Aaron Frey announced last week that Maine would join the lawsuit, initiated by his counterparts in New York, Rhode Island and Hawaii.

Representatives of IMLS could not be immediately reached Wednesday. A call to a media phone line went directly to voicemail and no one returned the call; an email sent to the most recently listed spokesperson — included in a March 20 release — was returned as “undeliverable.”