Obama requests largest amount ever for IMLS

It’s just the budget request but it will be the largest federal support for libraries ever – if it passes.
President Requests $265,556,000 for Institute of Museum and Library Services
Washington, DC—President Obama has requested $265,556,000 for fiscal year 2010 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The request, which was transmitted to Congress today, represents an increase of $1,453,000 over the FY 2009 enacted level for the Institute’s programs and administration. The proposed budget will support museums and libraries as they provide unparalleled value to the public, fuel knowledge sharing, and energize our economy, creativity, and competitiveness.
“We are pleased to have President Obama’s support for the nation’s museums and libraries,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of IMLS. “With this proposed budget, IMLS looks forward to continued support of these institutions as they connect people to information and ideas.”
The President requested $213,240,000 for the nation’s 123,000 libraries. Of that amount, approximately 80 percent is distributed through the Grants to States program to the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and freely associated state, according to a population-based formula. These grants help libraries meet the community needs, use technology to develop new service models and reach underserved populations. Library funding also supports:
National Leadership Grants to support creation of new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances to shape tomorrow’s libraries;
Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants to support improved access to library services for Native Americans, Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiians; and the
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants that build the professional capacity of libraries by improving staff knowledge and skills.
In support of the nation’s 17,500 museums, the President requested $35,182,000 for the following grant programs:
Museums for America, a program that strengthens museums as active resources for lifelong learning and as community assets.
The 21st Century Museum Professionals program, which supports projects that address the preparation of museum professionals for the future by updating and expanding their knowledge and skills.
The Conservation Project Support program, which helps museums identify conservation needs and priorities and perform activities to ensure the safekeeping of their collections.
National Leadership Grants to support creation of new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances to shape tomorrow’s museums.
The Native American and Native Hawaiian Museum Services program, which enables Native American tribes, Alaska Native villages or corporations, and organizations that primarily serve Native Hawaiians to benefit their communities and audiences through strengthened museum services.
The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program, which builds professional capacity in the African American museum community.
The Museum Assessment Program, which provides technical assistance to help institutions assess their strengths and weaknesses and plan for the future.
The Conservation Assessment Program, which assists small museums in laying the groundwork for effective collections management.
The President’s budget also provides continued support for research and policy activities in the Office of Policy, Planning, Research, and Communications. In 2008, IMLS released the following:
Exhibiting Public Value: Government Funding for Museums in the United States, the first major review of public finance for the museum sector.
The annual Public Libraries Survey, which includes information on population of service areas, service outlets, library collections and services, library staff, and operating revenue and expenditures.
The annual Library Statistics Report on state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia with a wide array of information on topics such as libraries’ Internet access and electronic services, collections, staff, and revenue.
A Data Note on Libraries’ Use of Broadband to Serve High-Need Communities.
In addition to in-house research, IMLS also supports outside research including the following:
InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information, released by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008.
Information Searches That Solve Problems: How People Use the Internet, Government Agencies, and Libraries When They Need Help by the Pew Center for American Life and the Internet and the University of Illinois, published in 2007;
An upcoming study on the impact of access to free computers in the public library on individuals and communities by the University of Washington. IMLS made the award In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
An upcoming study exploring family learning in art museums involving 2,100 family visitors and a longitudinal ethnographic study of 18 families by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, partnering with the High Museum of Art and the J.B. Speed Museum of Art.
A detailed table of President Obama’s budget request (PDF, 35KB) for IMLS with recent budget
history accompanies this release.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.”
If anyone suggests that this is frivolous, remind then that this supports employment, industry, the nation’s memory and culture as well as education and the right to know for all.
Stephen