Jennie Stapp

Jennie Stapp
Nationality	American
Occupation	Librarian, state government official
Title	State Librarian of Montana
Employer	Montana State Library
Known for	Montana State Librarian

Jennie Stapp is an American librarian and public administrator who has served as the State Librarian of Montana, leading the Montana State Library (MSL) in Helena. In this capacity, Stapp has overseen the library's statewide programs, managed its relationship with the Montana State Library Commission, and advocated for library services at both the state and federal levels. Her tenure has encompassed significant challenges, including natural disasters, debates over library standards and certification, the expansion of digital resources for rural communities, and the impact of federal funding cuts on Montana's library and cultural institutions. Stapp has been a prominent voice in Montana's library community, representing the state at national advocacy events and working to ensure that libraries across Montana continue to serve as vital points of access to information, education, and community resources.

Career

State Librarian of Montana

Jennie Stapp has served as the State Librarian of Montana, a position in which she leads the Montana State Library and works under the oversight of the Montana State Library Commission. The Montana State Library, headquartered in Helena, provides a wide range of services including support for public libraries across the state, digital resource programs, geographic information services, and programs aimed at serving individuals with disabilities. As state librarian, Stapp has been responsible for the administration of these programs and for representing the library's interests before the commission, the Montana state legislature, and federal officials.

The Montana State Library Commission, which oversees the state library, has continued to hold regular meetings throughout Stapp's tenure. As of early 2026, the commission announced a meeting scheduled for February 11, 2026, at the Montana State Library building at 1201 East 6th Avenue in Helena. These meetings address policy decisions, budgetary matters, and the strategic direction of library services statewide.

Expansion of Digital Resources

A significant initiative during Stapp's leadership was the expansion of free online educational resources for library patrons throughout Montana. In January 2022, the Montana State Library announced a program to bring free online classes to library patrons around the state. According to the Montana State Library, the COVID-19 pandemic had underscored the need for greater access to information through electronic resources, particularly in a geographically vast and rural state like Montana. Using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the state library worked to expand e-resources available to Montanans through their local libraries.

This initiative reflected a broader trend in American public libraries toward digital service delivery, but it held particular significance in Montana, where many communities are separated by long distances and may lack easy access to physical library buildings or educational institutions. The program aimed to ensure that all Montanans, regardless of their location, could access learning opportunities through their public library systems.

Early Literacy Initiatives

Under Stapp's leadership, the Montana State Library also pursued partnerships to support early childhood literacy. In December 2021, the state library announced a collaboration with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks through the "Ready 2 Read Goes Wild" program. This initiative provided themed trunks to public libraries across the state, with the goal of offering opportunities for patrons—particularly young children and their families—to engage with nature-themed literacy materials. The program combined the resources of the state library system with the expertise of Montana's wildlife and parks agency, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to early literacy promotion.

The Ready 2 Read Goes Wild program exemplified the Montana State Library's strategy of leveraging partnerships with other state agencies to extend the reach and impact of library services, particularly in communities where library budgets and staffing may be limited.

Library Standards and Certification Disputes

Stapp's tenure also involved navigating contentious issues related to public library standards and professional certification in Montana. In January 2022, the Flathead Beacon reported that the board of trustees of ImagineIF Libraries (the Flathead County library system) voted 3–2 to move forward with a library director candidate who did not meet Montana's public library standards for certification. The decision carried significant consequences: the loss of certification would result in the library system forfeiting more than $35,000 in state funding.

This episode highlighted the role of the Montana State Library in setting and enforcing professional standards for public libraries across the state. The certification system, which Stapp's office administered, was designed to ensure a baseline level of professional competence in library administration. The ImagineIF case drew public attention to the tension between local library governance—where elected or appointed boards of trustees make hiring decisions—and statewide standards intended to maintain quality of service. The potential loss of state funding served as the primary enforcement mechanism for compliance with these standards.

Response to Natural Disaster

In the summer of 2022, the Montana State Library was among state agencies affected by significant flooding in Helena. On July 4, 2022, KTVH reported that Stapp showed a photo of damage to the Montana State Library offices during an online library commission meeting, illustrating the physical impact of the flooding on the library's facilities. The flooding affected operations and required recovery efforts by the library and other state agencies housed in the Helena area.

Stapp's presentation of the damage to the commission provided transparency about the challenges facing the library's physical infrastructure and the steps being taken to recover. The incident underscored the vulnerability of state institutions to natural disasters and the need for contingency planning in library operations.

Montana State Library Commission Logo Debate

Also in July 2022, the Montana State Library Commission voted to reject a proposed new logo for the library. According to KTVH, disagreements among commissioners about the direction of the logo design led to the rejection. While the specific details of the design debate were not extensively reported, the episode reflected the commission's active role in decisions regarding the library's public identity and branding.

Federal Advocacy

Stapp has represented Montana's library interests at the national level. In May 2017, American Libraries Magazine reported on the Montana state delegation's participation in National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) in Washington, D.C. The delegation came prepared to advocate for federal support of library programs, making the case to members of Congress and their staffs about the importance of federal funding to libraries, particularly in rural states where libraries serve as essential community infrastructure.

National Library Legislative Day is an annual event organized by the American Library Association in which librarians, library supporters, and state library officials from across the country visit Capitol Hill to advocate for federal library funding, including programs administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Montana's participation, with Stapp among the delegation, reflected the state's engagement in national library policy discussions.

Impact of Federal Funding Cuts

In June 2025, Montana Public Radio reported on the potential effects of federal funding cuts on Montana's libraries and museums. The report noted that libraries provide far more than book lending services—they offer community events, classes, access to computers, and help preserve cultural heritage. Federal funding, particularly through IMLS and LSTA, has been a significant source of support for library programs in Montana, and proposed reductions raised concerns about the sustainability of services that many communities depend on.

The question of federal funding has been a recurring concern for the Montana State Library during Stapp's tenure. Montana's large geographic area and relatively small, dispersed population mean that many local libraries operate on limited budgets and depend heavily on state and federal support to maintain services. Federal cuts would disproportionately affect rural libraries, which often serve as the only public access point for internet, educational programming, and community gathering in their towns.

Legacy

Jennie Stapp's tenure as Montana State Librarian has been defined by her stewardship of the state library system during a period of significant change and challenge. Under her leadership, the Montana State Library expanded digital access for rural communities, developed creative partnerships for early literacy, maintained professional standards for public library directors, and navigated the physical and financial challenges posed by natural disasters and federal budget uncertainty.

Her advocacy at the national level, including participation in National Library Legislative Day, positioned Montana's library needs within broader national conversations about the role of public libraries in American civic life. The expansion of e-resources during and after the COVID-19 pandemic represented a substantive shift in how the Montana State Library served patrons, acknowledging the growing importance of digital access in a state where physical distances can be a barrier to library use.

The library standards enforcement case involving ImagineIF Libraries in Flathead County brought attention to the ongoing tension between local governance and statewide professional standards—a dynamic that Stapp's office navigated while seeking to maintain the quality and credibility of Montana's public library system.

Stapp's role during the 2022 Helena flooding demonstrated the practical challenges of operating a state cultural institution in a state subject to natural hazards, and her transparent communication with the library commission about the damage reflected an approach grounded in accountability to both the commission and the public.

As of 2026, the Montana State Library Commission continues to meet regularly, and the questions of federal funding, digital access, and professional standards that have characterized Stapp's tenure remain central issues for Montana's library community.