AAM's position on IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) and President Clinton's digitization proposal is roughly as follows: We support the request for digitization funds, but we also support more funding for existing IMLS programs, such as General Operating Support, for the very reasons Jay Smith mentioned in his posting -- namely, that many museums need more help before they can fully participate in the "National Digital Library" (which itself is not a fully developed proposal at this point). We are joined in this position by the other museum service associations with representatives in Washington. As for sustainability on the part of IMLS, it should be remembered that they don't have the money yet, and everybody agrees that getting *any* neew funding will be very difficult (unless Congress removes current caps on discretionary spending, and maybe it will be difficult even without the caps). I'm not really in any position to offer advice to museums, being a mere lobbyist and not a museum practitioner; but I'd encourage people to explore the range of services that AAM offers, including the Museum Assessment Program, meetings and seminars, publications, and Technical Information Service (TIS however is open to *institutional* members only). Protect me from my colleagues if I left anybody out. Andy Finch AAM Government Affairs [log in to unmask]