September 25, 2025

Keith Sonderling
Acting Director
Institute of Museum and Library Services
955 L’Enfant Plaza North SW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20024-2135 

Re: Request to release the National Museum Study results - This request does not require allocation of new money or the creation of a new program.

Dear Acting Director Sonderling,

The Coalition of State Museum Associations (COSMA) is writing to formally request the release of the results of the National Museum Survey (NMS) on behalf of our state museum association members and their member museums who participated in this research. As you know, this was the first national survey of museums in the United States, designed to be an annual, decades-long effort to better understand and support the museum and cultural center sector. Years of planning and significant taxpayer dollars went into its development and implementation, and tens of thousands of museums across the nation dedicated time and resources to participate.

Survey participants were assured that the results of this first survey would be released in June 2025. The delay in making this information available undermines the trust and goodwill of the museum community, which responded in good faith with the understanding that the results would be publicly accessible. The data gathered is critical for informing decision-making at the local, state, and national levels, and withholding it diminishes the return on investment of public funds.

We also note that several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests have been filed for the release of this data without success. If the cancellation of the contract with the company managing the synthesis and anonymization of the data is the cause of the delay, we urge IMLS to take immediate corrective action. Either the contract should be reinstated so the legally required work can be completed, or the agency should fulfill this responsibility internally. In either case, the obligation to provide access to survey results remains.

Museums are key partners in promoting understanding of critical issues, providing educational experiences to learners of all ages, broadening exposure to the history of our country, supporting the ethical stewardship of sensitive art and artifacts, and improving access, safety, and resilience of important cultural and historic treasures. The release of NMS data will help all US museums better understand the landscape of museum sector work and cultivate more stability for museums across the nation while preserving jobs that are vital to communities of all sizes.

The National Museum Survey was a historic and long-overdue effort to capture the true scope, diversity, and needs of the museum field, and completing its first year was a critical milestone. Abandoning this work now would squander years of investment, taxpayer dollars, and the trust of the thousands of Americans who work at and visit museums. Even if this administration chooses not to continue the survey into the future, IMLS must honor its obligation and release the results of the initial survey to the public without further delay.

If you have any questions, please contact COSMA Board chair Rusty Baker at rusty.baker@pamuseums.org or 717-280-3822.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,