Contact:  Mamie Bittner  (202) 606-4648 or [log in to unmask]
Tania Said  (202) 606-4646 or [log in to unmask]

For Immediate Release:
February 6, 1997

President Releases Budget Request for Institute of Museum and Library Services

Washington, DC -- The Administration's FY 98 budget request for the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) released to Congress today contains
$26,000,000 for the Office of Museum Services and $136,370,000 for the Office of
Library Services.

Diane B. Frankel, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services,
said, "Museums and libraries are community anchors for learning throughout one's
lifetime.  In addition, beyond their local communities, museum and library
resources are a vital source of content for the Internet. I am proud that the
President's budget recognizes these rich resources and the power they have to
serve the public."

This budget will fund the Library Services and Technology Act for the first
time.  The Act streamlines Federal library services programs: to allow libraries
to adapt new technologies to identify, preserve, and share library and
information resources across institutional, local and state boundaries; and to
extend outreach to those for whom library service requires extra effort or
special materials.

For museums, this budget, an increase of $4 million over FY 1997, will continue
to strengthen infrastructure, enhance their community service role and improve
professionalism.  With this budget, the Office of Museum Services will begin
Collections: USA, an initiative to coordinate and focus museums' potential to
enrich the content of the Internet.

Together the Office of Museum Services and the Office of Library Services will
support  joint museum/library collaborations.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services--The Museum and Library
Services Act of 1996, enacted on September 30, 1996, created the Institute of
Museum and Library Services. The new Institute consists of an Office of Museum
Services and an Office of Library Services.  Museum programs were formerly
administered by the Institute of Museum Services.  Library programs were
formerly administered by the Department of Education.

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IMLS-02-97