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.
Overview
Libraries and museums help create vibrant, energized learning communities. Our
achievement as individuals and our success as a democratic society depend on learning continually,
adapting to change readily and evaluating information critically.
As stewards of cultural heritage, information and ideas, museums and libraries
have traditionally played a vital role in helping us experience, explore, discover and make sense
of the world. That role is now more essential than ever. Through building technological
infrastructure and strengthening community relationships, libraries and museums can offer the
public unprecedented access and expertise in transforming information overload into knowledge.
The institute's role at the Institute is to provide leadership and funding for
the nation’s museums and libraries, resources these institutions need to fulfill their mission of
becoming centers of learning for life crucial to achieving personal fulfillment, a productive
workforce and an engaged citizenry.
Library and Services Technology Act
Specifically, the institute is authorized to support the following activities:
- To promote improvements in library services in all types of libraries in order to better serve the people of the United States
- To facilitate access to resources and in all types of libraries for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry; and
- To encourage resource sharing among all types of libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public
