The ruling effectively requires the facility to be reopened unless the parties reach agreement on language implementing the reversal or the court approves a proposed order.

Background: In 2025, DAS announced the permanent closure of the Iowa City facility, prompting a lawsuit from 17 petitioners including historians, archivists, librarians, and donors, with a temporary injunction blocking further removal of materials.

The judge held that the statute’s plain meaning requires DAS to maintain a research center in Iowa City in its existing state, not transfer responsibility to another entity.

A plaintiff advocate welcomed the ruling but warned the fight could continue and legislative language will influence future outcomes.

A district court ruled that the Iowa Department of Administrative Services must maintain a State Historical Society research library in Iowa City, reversing the 2024 closure of the 170-year-old facility in the Centennial Building.

The memorandum of understanding allowing temporary housing of materials at the University of Iowa does not satisfy the statute; the state must directly maintain a research center in Iowa City.

The court rejected the state's claim of interpretive authority and noted the university is not obligated to maintain the Iowa City research center.

The case may proceed to appeals by the state or to the appointment of a court master if the parties cannot agree on language to implement the reversal.

Next steps: parties have up to 30 days to draft language to implement the reversal or propose an order for the court’s review, with further judicial action still possible.