> April 10, 2001:  Press Release from the federal Institute of Museum and
> Library Services (IMLS)
>
> IMLS Press Contact: Mamie Bittner [log in to unmask] 202-606-8339
>
> President Bush's Budget Requests $192,977,000 for Institute of Museum and
> Library Services
>
> Washington, D.C. - The President's Budget for FY 2002 released to Congress
> today contains $192,977,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library
> Services reflecting an increase of $125,000 for Federal staff costs and
> level funding for core grant programs.   The request for the Office of
> Museum Services is $24,899,000.  The request for the Office of Library
> Services is $168,078,000.
>
> Beverly Sheppard, on behalf of the Agency, said, "IMLS strives to build
> the capacity of museums and libraries to face the new challenges of a
> learning society.  As 21st century learners we are faced with
> unprecedented challenges and opportunities.  Our society demands that we
> continue to learn throughout our lifetimes.  We are called upon to
> navigate a myriad of complex decisions that affect the quality of our
> lives as individuals, the strength of our families, the health of our
> communities, and the wisdom of our nation.   We are faced with dramatic
> advances in technology, increasing diversity in our populations and great
> concerns about education in an information age.  All of these trends
> result in increased pressure on museums and libraries to address central
> social, economic, and educational issues."
>
> Museums and libraries are indispensable members of our learning
> communities and have critical responsibilities to students of all ages.
> Building the educational capacity of libraries and museums and sustaining
> equitable access to their resources is at the heart of the Federal vision
> for these vital institutions.  IMLS' approach is strategic.  IMLS uses
> Federal dollars to:
>
> * Invest in Education: promoting the roles of museums and libraries as
> centers for lifelong learning,
> * Invest in Access: using technology and training to give all citizens
> equitable access to information,
> * Invest in Families and Children: supporting museum and library use for
> all ages,
> * Invest in Communities: strengthening the role of museums and libraries
> as centers of civic engagement, and to
> * Invest in Cultural Heritage: studying, preserving, and showcasing the
> unique heritage at the heart of America.
>
> Through its leadership activities and comprehensive grant programs, the
> Institute of Museum and Library Services promotes the broadest public
> access to museums and libraries, stimulates vital research, training and
> the use of new technologies, supports community partnerships and
> establishes standards of excellence in all levels of institutional
> operations.
>
> CORE NEEDS
> The Institute's library programs help libraries to use new technologies to
> identify, preserve, and share library and information resources across
> institutional, local and state boundaries and to reach those for whom
> library service requires extra effort or special materials. Museum
> programs strengthen museum operations, improve care of collections,
> increase professional development opportunities and enhance the community
> service role of museums.
>
> PRIORITY GOALS
> The budget request focuses on two major goals. Each of these goals will be
> addressed through museum programs, library programs and collaborations
> between museums and libraries:
> * increasing technological access to museum and library resources for all
> Americans;  and,
> * building community partnerships to address serious and persistent
> community needs.
>
> TECHNOLOGY
> Technology challenges are escalating, reflecting a new role for IMLS at
> the federal level. Since 1998, IMLS has provided grants to state library
> agencies and to individual libraries for research, digitization and
> management of digital resources. Funding further addresses critical
> preservation and interoperability issues.  Beginning in 2000, Congress
> appropriated funds to IMLS to establish museum programs that build
> electronic networks and use technology to make museum resources more
> accessible.
>
> Funding for technology initiatives will continue to support the
> establishment of electronic networks among institutions, the
> identification and digitization of key collections, ongoing research into
> the management of digital collections and nationwide opportunities for
> information sharing and dissemination.
>
> With this budget IMLS joins with the National Science Foundation and
> others to provide linkages among digital library and museum resources.
> Digital resources for lifelong learning are available on the Internet but
> are not yet accessible in usable ways to all Americans.  This project will
> include addressing technical issues to increase ease of searching for and
> finding information held by many different institutions.  These
> collaborations will provide vital educational content to the classrooms of
> America.
>
> BUILDING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
> Libraries and museums across the country are active community citizens.
> They are experts in building strategic partnerships across the community
> to address pressing local issues, such as: after school programming,
> neighborhood revitalization, narrowing the digital divide, linking
> community services and strengthening family programming.  As partners,
> libraries and museums are building new informal learning systems for the
> 21st century, meeting learning needs from infancy through the senior
> years.
>
> IMLS seeks additional funding to invest in this community leadership.  Two
> areas are of special concern: supporting strong, creative after-school
> programming and building institutional expertise to strengthen community
> leadership.
>
> After-School Programs: IMLS seeks funding for both libraries and museums
> to support strong after-school programs, both at their facilities and
> within school and community centers. Such programming is especially
> significant for students at risk. Solid research supports the positive
> effects of engaging children in life-affirming creative and reliable
> out-of-school-hour environments.  Libraries and museums offer numerous
> such programs, ranging from homework programs to an innovative computer
> connections clubs.  Children learn new skills, are offered a safe
> environment, reinforce school-based learning and gain fresh confidence
> through these opportunities.
>
> Building Institutional Expertise: IMLS seeks additional funding to develop
> broad professional expertise in both museums and libraries to expand their
> roles as community leaders.  Funds will identify and share best practices,
> using broad communication strategies to encourage leadership across the
> nation.  Increased funding will build the institutional capacity of
> museums and libraries and educators and community builders in the 21st
> century. Further investment in professional practices will support
> initiatives to support and train minority professionals in museums and
> libraries.
>
> About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - IMLS is an
> independent Federal agency that fosters leadership, innovation, and a
> lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's museums and libraries.
> Created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208, IMLS
> administers the Library Services and Technology Act and the Museum
> Services Act. IMLS has an annual budget of approximately $230 million. The
> Institute receives policy advice from two Presidentially appointed, Senate
> confirmed entities: the National Commission for Libraries and Information
> Science and the National Museum Services Board. For more information,
> including grant applications, contact IMLS at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
> Washington, D.C. 202-606-8536, or http://www.imls.gov.
>
> Institute of Museum and Library Services
> Fact Sheet on Library Services
> FY 2002 President's Request
>
> Program Type
> FY 2001 Enacted
> FY 2002 Request
> State Grants
> $148,939,000
> $149,014,000
> Native American Library Services
> $2,940,000
> $2,941,000
> National Leadership Grants
> *$50,550,000
> $11,081,000
> Federal Administration
> $5,040,000
> $5,042,000
>
> * includes $39,469,000 in non-competitive Congressionally directed grants
> State Grants
>
> IMLS Grants to States support library services in every State, the
> District of Columbia and U.S. Territories.  Each State develops a
> five-year plan tailored to the individual states' needs and addressing the
> goals of using technology to expand access and expanding service to those
> who may have difficulty using the library.  All types of libraries public,
> academic, research, schools and archives can be eligible (depends on
> criteria established by each state).  For more information about the
> program and exemplary project descriptions see http://www.imls.gov.
>
> * Libraries are the #1 point of access to the Internet for those who do
> not have computers at home or work. However, many public libraries have
> waiting lists for patrons wanting to access the Internet due to heavy
> demand.  States use IMLS fund to help narrow the digital divide by
> providing access to computers and to the Internet, community training, and
> content development.
>
> * Today's libraries and the librarians are information navigators.  States
> use IMLS grants to help establish and maintain the infrastructure needed
> to expand access to rich information resources by developing and
> purchasing  databases; sharing resources, expanding interlibrary loan and
> purchasing of hardware and software.
>
> * Libraries support learning throughout the lifetime.  States use IMLS
> grants for after-school programs, homework centers, literacy training, ESL
> programs, adaptive services for the disabled, job and health information,
> support for small business, parenting resources and story telling for
> children, programs for seniors and more.
>
> National Leadership Grants
> These grants enhance the quality of library services nationwide, improve
> access to information resources, and encourage collaboration between
> museums and libraries.  Grants focus on
>
> * Education and training in library and information science;
> * Research in library and information science and demonstration projects
> to test potential solutions to problems in real-world situations;
> * Preservation or digitization of unique resources; and
> * Museum/Library collaboratives for innovative projects that model how
> museums and libraries can work together to expand their service to the
> public, with emphasis on how the community is served, technology is used,
> or education is enhanced.
>
> Some of the grants in this program in 2002 will explore potential ways to
> improve technology skills and access for the information "have-nots."
> Others will contribute to the partnership with NSF, bridging the spectrum
> from basic research through applied research and demonstration, to
> implementation of digital libraries.
>
> Native American Library Services
> Grants support the development of basic library services, technical
> assistance and enhancement of library services for Federally recognized
> tribes, Alaska Native villages and Native Hawaiians.  Grants in this
> program support the development of technology skills and information
> access, literacy and reading in communities that lack many basic resources
> and services.
>
> Institute of Museum and Library Services
> Fact Sheet for Museums
> FY 2002 President's Request
>
> Program Type
> FY 2001 enacted
> FY 2002 request
> Support for Operations
> $15,932,000
> $15,757,000
> Support for Conservation
> $3,123,000
> $3,130,000
> National Leadership Grants
> $3,542,000
> $3,542,000
> Federal Administration
> $2,255,000
> $2,470,000
>
> National Leadership Grants
> This program supports leadership activities with broad impact. It has four
> priorities:
>
> Museums Online supports technology projects that demonstrate innovative
> applications of technology to increase public access to museum collections
> and educational materials.
>
> Museums in the Community supports partnerships between museums and
> community organizations to enhance community life;
> Professional Practices supports professional training, leadership
> development, and strategic planning; and
>
> Model Programs of Library-Museum Collaboration supports innovative
> museum-library partnerships that address real community needs in efficient
> and effective ways.
>
> Support for Operations
> General Operating Support awards reward excellence in museum operations.
> Over time the program has been credited for improving museum professional
> practice nationwide and providing an annual nationwide forum to share best
> practice.  One of the greatest benefits of the program is that decisions
> about allocation of funds are made at the local museum for their highest
> priority projects.  Grants are used for a wide range of activities; they
> extend educational programming, broaden community outreach, integrate new
> technologies, conserve fragile collections, and train staff.
>
> This category also supports grants for museums to participate in the
> American Association of Museum's Museum Assessment Program.   Hundreds of
> museums have improved their operations, collections care and community
> outreach using this program of technical assistance.
>
> Support for Conservation
> Museums care for over 750 million objects and specimens that represent our
> nation's cultural heritage.  This program has been credited with improving
> museums' approach to collections care activities nationwide.  Though the
> Conservation Project Support program and the Conservation Assessment
> Program museum environments have been improved and millions of objects
> have been treated so that our grandchildren will have access to the rich
> cultural resources that museums hold in trust.
>
>
>
> Eileen Maxwell
> Public Affairs Specialist
> Institute of Museum and Library Services
> 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
> Suite 510
> Washington, DC  20506
> 202-606-8339
> 202-606-8591 (fax)
> [log in to unmask]
> Subscribe to Primary Source, the IMLS monthly e-mail newsletter, for
> important museum and library news
> http://www.imls.gov/utility/subscrbe.htm.
>
>

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