FISCAL YEAR 2022 

Appropriations Request to the 

United States Congress

MAY 2021
2

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................ 3

I. FY 2022 Appropriations Request.................................................................... 4

Summary of Appropriations Request..................................................................................4

IMLS Overview...........................................................................................................................6

FY 2022–FY 2026 Mission, Vision, and Strategic Goals and Objectives ....................6

Resilience and Recovery: Meeting the Evolving Needs of the American Public....7

II. Program Descriptions....................................................................................... 9

Library Services .........................................................................................................................9

Museum Services ....................................................................................................................17

Data Collection, Research, and Evaluation..................................................................... 22

III. IMLS Administration ...................................................................................... 25

Introduction............................................................................................................................ 25

Financial Management ........................................................................................................ 25

Human Capital Management............................................................................................. 26

Grants Management ............................................................................................................. 28

Information Technology: Data, Cybersecurity, and AI............................................... 28

Communications ................................................................................................................... 29

Administrative Request by Object Class Code............................................................... 30

IV. Performance Plan ............................................................................................ 33

Overview .................................................................................................................................. 33

Evidence Building.................................................................................................................. 33

V. Authorizing Framework.................................................................................34

Library Services ...................................................................................................................... 34

Museum Services ....................................................................................................................37

Policy Research, Analysis, Data Collection, and Dissemination .............................. 38

Interagency Collaboration .................................................................................................. 39
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Introduction

If I could choose one theme to characterize the 

past 14 months, it would be resilience.

Americans everywhere have demonstrated 

remarkable strength, spirit, and unity in the 

face of all that we’ve experienced during the 

pandemic: the health risks and loss brought on 

by COVID-19; economic and financial struggles; 

and the social, racial, and equity challenges that 

have both been revealed and exacerbated over 

the past year.

For me, serving libraries and museums is critical 

in addressing these and future barriers—building 

resilience before we must call on it. Museums 

and libraries offer unparalleled access to 

educational, information, health, job, and cultural 

resources. They bridge gaps, uplift communities, 

and give voice to those who have not been heard. 

These institutions are the heart and soul of 

diverse communities across the nation, and key 

in addressing gaps in opportunity. They bring 

people together to learn about each other and 

the world around them. And they remind us that 

there is more that unites us than divides us.

We’ve faced challenges before as a country. In 

times of war and times of peace, we have—and 

continue to—look to the arts, humanities, and 

sciences, poetry and literature, history, and 

natural experiences as the everlasting symbol 

of American endurance and the soul of our very 

nation whose importance cannot be overstated. 

I draw strength from our nation’s history and 

heritage, and we must tell these stories on behalf 

of those who went before us and America’s future 

children. 

To that end, we have been charged with 

addressing the needs of Latinos in the US 

through museum services: fostering cultural 

preservation, celebration, and storytelling. 

American Latino history is American history, too. 

We hope to take this important responsibility 

forward, with the support of Congressional 

funding, as we have done through our African 

American History and Culture grants for 

museums, HBCUs, and cultural organizations 

for 15 years. And there is still much more to do 

to uplift the stories of Black culture, history, and 

civil rights.

Museum and libraries celebrate the many facets 

of our nation’s heritage and IMLS is honored 

that we are trusted with supporting our nation’s 

collections, the objects and information that 

represent the artistic, cultural, historical, and 

scientific foundations of our nation’s shared 

heritage. As we look to our 250th anniversary, we 

will continue to engage museums and libraries 

in celebrating, preserving, and moving forward 

with our shared national understanding and 

exploring what it means to be an American.

I am proud to serve IMLS’s mission and uplift 

the hardworking staff in museums, libraries, and 

those they support. I continue to be amazed at 

just how impactful IMLS funding is and how the 

work of museums, libraries, and communities 

can move the needle on affecting change, slowly 

but surely. 

Together, we can continue to build resilience so 

that we may support American jobs, families, and 

communities today and better meet the as-yetundiscovered challenges of the future tomorrow.

My profound thanks go out to the IMLS staff for 

their tireless work, as well as our Board members, 

and those working for and with libraries and 

museums across the country. Your commitment, 

courage, passion, and resilience are more 

important than ever.

Sincerely,

Crosby Kemper

Director
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I. FY 2022 Appropriations Request

SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST 

The FY 2022 IMLS budget request is $265,000,000. This amount includes $255,769,000 for programs 

and administrative costs authorized by the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), which includes 

the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Museum Services Act (MSA), $5,231,000 for a 

grants program authorized by the African American History and Culture Act (AAHCA), and $4,000,000 

for a grants program authorized by the National Museum of the American Latino Act (NMALA).

LIBRARY SERVICES

IMLS requests $197,472,000 for the following 

library grant programs authorized by the Library 

Services and Technology Act: 

• Grants to State Library Agencies

• Native American and Native Hawaiian Library 

Services

• Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

• National Leadership Grants for Libraries

MUSEUM SERVICES 

IMLS requests $37,284,000 for the following 

museum grants and related programs authorized 

by the Museum Services Act: 

• Museums for America

• Museums Empowered

• Inspire! Museum Grants for Small Museums

• Native American and Native Hawaiian Museum 

Services

• National Leadership Grants for Museums 

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM SERVICES

IMLS requests $5,231,000 for the grant program 

authorized by the African American History and 

Culture Act. 

AMERICAN LATINO MUSEUM SERVICES

IMLS requests $4,000,000 for the grant program 

authorized by the National Museum of the 

American Latino Act. 

DATA COLLECTION, RESEARCH, AND 

EVALUATION

IMLS requests $4,513,000 to support and conduct 

policy research, data collection, analysis and 

modeling, evaluation, and dissemination of 

information to extend and improve the nation’s 

museum, library, and information services.

ADMINISTRATION

IMLS requests $16,500,000 for its administrative 

expenses, including acquisition functions and 

financial reporting; human capital management; 

grants management; information technology, 

including data, cybersecurity, and AI; and 

communications.
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Table 1: IMLS Appropriations History, FY 2016–FY 2021

$ in Thousands

Statutory Authority FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 

(request)

CARES ACT

Discretionary and Administration -- -- -- -- 20,000 -- --

Grants to States -- -- -- -- 30,000 -- --

Subtotal, CARES Act 50,000

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) ACT

Discretionary and Administration -- -- -- -- -- 22,000 --

Grants to States -- -- -- -- -- 178,000 --

Subtotal, ARP Act 200,000

LIBRARY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY ACT (LSTA)

Grants to States 155,789 156,103 160,803 160,803 166,803 168,803 168,803

Native American Library Services 4,063 4,063 5,063 5,063 5,263 5,263 5,263

National Leadership: Libraries 13,092 13,406 13,406 13,406 13,406 13,406 13,406

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000

Subtotal, LSTA 182,944 183,572 189,272 189,272 195,472 197,472 197,472

MUSEUM SERVICES ACT (MSA)

Museums for America 21,149 21,149 22,899 22,899 25,899 26,899 26,899

Native American/Native Hawaiian 

Museum Services 

972 972 1,472 1,472 1,772 2,272 2,272

National Leadership: Museums 7,741 8,113 8,113 8,113 8,113 8,113 8,113

Subtotal, MSA 29,862 30,234 32,484 32,484 35,784 37,284 37,284

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ACT

Museum Grants for African 

American History and Culture

1,481 1,481 2,231 2,231 2,731 3,231 5,231

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN LATINO ACT

Museum Grants for American 

Latino History and Culture

-- -- -- -- -- -- 4,000

MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT (MLSA) GENERAL PROVISIONS

Research, Evaluation, and Data 

Collection

1,713 1,713 2,013 3,013 3,013 3,513 4,513

AGENCY WIDE

Administration 14,000 14,000 14,000 15,000 15,000 15,500 16,500

Total, IMLS Programs and 

Administration 230,000 231,000 240,000 242,000 302,000 457,000 265,000
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IMLS OVERVIEW 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is 

an independent grantmaking Agency and the 

primary source of federal support for the nation’s 

libraries and museums. IMLS was created 

with the passage of the Museum and Library 

Services Act of 1996, which was reauthorized on 

December 31, 2018. The Agency has statutory 

authority to award financial assistance, collect 

data, form strategic partnerships, and advise 

policymakers and other federal agencies on 

museum, library, and information services. The 

Agency consolidates federal library programs 

dating back to 1956 with museum programs 

dating back to 1976. 

The Agency helps to ensure that all Americans 

have access to museum, library, and information 

services, and invests in new and exploratory 

approaches, as well as proven and tested 

methods. IMLS funds work that advances 

collective knowledge, lifelong learning, and 

cultural and civic engagement. The Agency also 

builds capacity within the museum and library 

fields to enable better service to communities 

and to enhance community decision making by 

sharing trends and data. 

IMLS has an expansive reach. The Agency is the 

largest source of federal funding for libraries in 

the nation, directing population-based funding 

to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the US 

territories, and Freely Associated States through 

its Grants to States program. The Agency’s 

discretionary grants are selected through a 

highly respected and competitive peer review 

process, drawing on professionals located 

across the nation. This work enables museums 

and libraries located in geographically and 

economically diverse areas to deliver essential 

services that make it possible for individuals and 

communities to flourish.

FY 2022–FY 2026 MISSION, VISION, AND STRATEGIC GOALS 

AND OBJECTIVES

The mission of IMLS is to advance, support, and 

empower America’s museums, libraries, and 

related organizations through grantmaking, 

research, and policy development.

The Agency carries out its charge as it adapts 

to meet the changing needs of our nation’s 

museums and libraries and their communities. 

IMLS’s mission is essential to helping these 

institutions navigate change and continue to 

improve their services.

The Agency is developing a new strategic plan 

for 2022–2026. The strategic plan goals and 

objectives reflected below frame how the Agency 

envisions meeting the essential information, 

education, research, economic, cultural, and 

civic needs of the American public over the next 

five years.

IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and 

communities have access to museums and 

libraries to learn from and be inspired by the 

trusted information, ideas, and stories they 

contain about our diverse natural and cultural 

heritage.
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FY 2022 – FY 2026 Strategic Goals and Objectives

Goals Objectives

Goal 1: Champion Lifelong 

Learning 

Objective 1.1: Advance shared knowledge and learning opportunities for all 

Objective 1.2: Support the training and professional development of the museum and 

library workforce 

Goal 2: Strengthen Community 

Engagement 

Objective 2.1: Promote inclusive engagement across diverse audiences 

Objective 2.2: Support community collaboration and foster civic discourse 

Goal 3: Advance Collections 

Stewardship and Access 

Objective 3.1: Support collections care and management 

Objective 3.2: Promote access to museum and library collections 

Goal 4: Demonstrate Excellence 

in Public Service 

Objective 4.1: Maximize public investments by cultivating a culture of planning, evaluation, 

and evidence-based practice.

Objective 4.2: Increase the impact of IMLS through strategic engagement with public and 

private sector stakeholders. 

Objective 4.3: Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Agency operations.

Objective 4.4: Build a workplace culture that fosters respect and collaboration, promotes 

open and transparent communication, and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY: MEETING THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF 

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC 

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the 

importance of the nation’s museums and 

libraries as trusted institutions that provide 

vital services to the communities they serve. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, IMLS has 

leveraged investments from the CARES Act and 

the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act into direct 

grants and strategic collaborations such as the 

REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums 

(REALM) research project, which, along with our 

ongoing grant programs, have provided support 

to museums and libraries as they respond to the 

crisis. 

As communities and libraries begin to recover 

and move towards post-pandemic recovery, 

IMLS will build upon our investments in 

museums and libraries to advance community 

resiliency and economic development through 

better understanding the equity, diversity, 

and inclusion needs of the museum and 

library fields; informing a federal approach to 

broadband access and the expansion of digital 

infrastructure; and consulting with the museum 

and library fields to assess how IMLS can support 

and prepare these critical institutions to meet the 

ever-evolving needs of the American public.

Within the museum, library, and information 

science fields—and cutting across disciplines 

throughout our nation—the principles and 

priorities of equity, diversity, and inclusion are at 

the forefront of program development. At IMLS, 

we are examining and will further investigate 

our own grantmaking, research, and policy 

development processes, and how the Agency 

can further address the critical issues of equity, 

diversity, and inclusion in museums and libraries 

and their communities. 

With the additional funding IMLS will 

identify opportunities to achieve greater 

equity in its engagement, grantmaking, and 

data analysis efforts to benefit historically 

underserved communities, consistent with 

the Administration’s “Build Back Better” racial 

and social justice priorities and the President’s 

Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity 

and Support for Underserved Communities. The 
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Agency will continue its efforts to engage in 

critically important consultations with Native 

American and Native Alaskan communities and 

will be carrying out a programmatic assessment 

of its Native American, Native Alaskan, and 

Native Hawaiian programs to identify how to 

maximize the impact of our support of these 

communities. IMLS recently completed an 

assessment of its African American History 

and Culture grant program, which is helping 

to inform our FY 2022 request and priorities 

for the program. These consultations and 

assessments will expand IMLS’s understanding 

of its grantmaking as it relates to the needs of 

these historically underserved communities and 

their libraries and museums. As authorized in 

the recent National Museum of the American 

Latino Act, IMLS will establish a framework of 

program support for American Latino museums 

and related organizations to elevate the stories, 

contributions, and experiences of Latino 

Americans. As the Agency did when establishing 

its Museum Grants for African American History 

and Culture program, IMLS is coordinating with 

the Smithsonian to consult with a variety of 

stakeholders in order to develop the program. 

The consultations will inform the Agency’s 

understanding of the needs of American Latino 

museums and help ensure that our program 

strategically builds the capacity of these 

organizations to serve their publics. 

The pandemic exacerbated the digital divide and 

heightened understanding of the importance 

of broadband in providing the public—and 

particularly the historically underserved—with 

basic tools they need to access virtual library 

and museum services, participate in online 

learning, and engage in other vital aspects of our 

increasingly digital lives. A key hallmark of the 

Agency’s CARES Act and ARP Act grantmaking 

throughout the pandemic has been supporting 

museums’ and libraries’ efforts to keep 

communities virtually connected and narrow 

the digital divide. With IMLS funding support 

from the CARES Act, states and territories were 

able to use the funds to expand digital network 

access, purchase Internet-accessible devices, and 

provide technical support services to citizens. 

Working in collaboration with federal partners, 

museums, libraries, and Tribes, IMLS will further 

align its efforts to inform a federal approach to 

broadband access and the expansion of digital 

infrastructure. Through these efforts, IMLS 

will help ensure that communities across the 

nation are empowered to fully participate in 

the workforce, educational, health, and other 

opportunities that advance community and 

overall wellbeing. 

And finally, as we look forward to the nation’s 

250th anniversary (America 250), the Agency’s 

work will be further informed by a broad 

outreach initiative seeking to envision the future 

of museum and library services in support 

of America’s communities. IMLS will engage 

professionals throughout the museum and 

library sectors in collaborative convenings, 

research, and in-depth trends analysis about 

how the pandemic is shaping these institutions 

and the communities they serve. The Agency’s 

celebration of America 250 provides the perfect 

opportunity to consider how, since the nation’s 

founding, museums and libraries have built 

infrastructure in support of the educational 

and informational needs of the public, while 

also fostering social wellbeing and community 

resilience. An exploration of our post-pandemic 

future affords IMLS an invaluable opportunity to 

assume a leadership role in addressing critical 

issues; this important work in FY 2022 will 

inform Agency initiatives, funding opportunities, 

research, and policy agendas to support 

the nation’s museums and libraries and the 

communities they serve.
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II. Program Descriptions

LIBRARY SERVICES

GRANTS TO STATES 

FY 2022 Budget Request: $168,803,000

Map 1: FY 2020 Library Grants to States Distribution

Please visit IMLS.gov/#imls-map to explore interactive award data. 

The Grants to States program is the largest source of federal funding support for library services in 

the United States. IMLS funds enable State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) to advance library 

services throughout each state and territory.
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Awards Based upon State Plan and 

Population-Based Formula 

The library Grants to States program awards 

population-based formula grants to each State 

Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) in the 

50 states of the United States, the District of 

Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American 

Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and 

the Republic of Palau (see 20 U.S.C. §§ 9122 and 

9131). 

The formula consists of a minimum allotment 

set by law plus a supplemental amount 

based on population (dependent on annual 

appropriations). Population data are based on 

the information available from the U.S. Census 

Bureau. 

The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 

increased minimum allotments for states from 

$680,000 to $1,000,000, and for Pacific territories 

and freely associated states, from $60,000 to 

$100,000. Increases to the minimum allotments 

depend on increases to the program’s overall 

budget, which grew by $6,000,000 in FY 2020 and 

$2,000,000 in FY 2021. Although these increases 

did not fully enact the new statutory minimum 

allotments, they did raise the base to $833,845 

for states, with $60,000 for other entities. The 

Act limits administrative costs at the state level 

to four percent and requires a 34 percent match 

from non-federal state or local funds.

Planning and Reporting

Programs and services delivered by each SLAA 

support the purposes and priorities set forth in 

the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). 

SLAAs must complete five-year plans, conduct 

a five-year evaluation based on these plans, 

and report annually to IMLS on their progress 

in strengthening library services, which helps 

improve practice and inform policy. SLAAs set 

goals and objectives for their states regarding 

the use of Grants to States funds within the 

statutorily required five-year plan approved by 

IMLS. These goals and objectives are determined 

through a planning process that includes 

statewide needs assessments. 

States are currently in the 2018–2022 cycle, 

with four of those annual funding allotments 

out to the states (FY 2022 remains). States will 

be submitting their Five-Year Evaluations of the 

2018–2022 Five-Year Plans by the end of March 

2022 and submitting new Five-Year Plans for the 

2023–2027 cycle by the end of June 2022. The 

new FY 2023 cycle begins on October 1, 2022. 

States will continue to manage their funds from 

the 2018–2022 cycle through the end of 2023. 

Five-year plans, submitted in June 2017, cover 

activities from FY 2018 through FY 2022. 

Significant program priorities outlined in the 

plans include the following: 

LIBRARIES FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED

IMLS supports Libraries for the Blind and Print 

Disabled (or Talking Book services) as a priority. 

These programs provide access to reading 

materials in alternate formats. In recent years, 

more than 10 percent of all Grants to States 

funding, tens of millions of dollars, go to support 

these kinds of services. These programs reflect 

IMLS LSTA priorities, such as increasing access 

to library services and reaching underserved 

populations.

BROADBAND

Broadband includes important technology 

infrastructure for libraries, such as digital access, 

devices, tools, and services. Libraries play a 

significant role in providing digital access, 

fostering digital literacy, and encouraging 

adoption of Internet use, which impacts the 

health and vitality of communities. The IMLS 

Public Libraries Survey reflect that over 99% of 

public libraries provide Internet access.

RURAL POPULATIONS

Ensuring a focus on rural populations. Rural 

libraries serve approximately 30 million 

Americans, helping their communities solve 

persistent challenges with broadband access, 

early learning, workforce development, and 

access to reliable information.
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Community workforce development is 

separate from the training of library staff. 

States use federal funds to support job centers 

and programs, develop resume-building and 

interview skills in library customers, and acquire 

business databases for market research. During 

the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries have adapted 

programs to reach un- and under-employed 

members of their communities in new ways. 

EARLY LEARNING

Early learning which includes programs to get 

books into the hands of young readers, as well 

as specialized programs to help caregivers foster 

literacy-rich environments for young learners. 

States also focus on partnerships with other 

Elementary or Secondary Education agencies. 

These programs focus on advancing early 

learning, reading initiatives, or other programs 

targeted to students. 

SLAAs have reported on the results of programs 

and services delivered through Grants to States 

funding using IMLS’s State Program Report 

framework, for a more nationally comparable 

set of data that also incorporates outcomes. 

IMLS provides technical assistance and hosts an 

annual conference to identify trends, share best 

practices, and train SLAAs. 

Table 2: State Allotments for FY 2017–FY 2021

State FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021

Alabama $2,476,478 $2,530,248 $2,561,123 $2,661,980 $2,695,292

Alaska $954,052 $960,795 $963,807 $1,073,876 $1,110,387

American Samoa $80,019 $79,291 $79,295 $78,820 $77,537

Arizona $3,240,303 $3,343,080 $3,440,045 $3,566,322 $3,640,805

Arkansas $1,783,844 $1,820,298 $1,839,886 $1,944,233 $1,980,065

California $15,178,758 $15,686,445 $15,903,734 $15,837,311 $15,723,840

Colorado $2,726,649 $2,808,239 $2,871,967 $2,987,680 $3,030,470

Connecticut $2,001,123 $2,041,923 $2,054,959 $2,152,655 $2,142,520

Delaware $1,031,688 $1,045,111 $1,052,221 $1,166,087 $1,207,081

District of Columbia $931,621 $943,402 $950,343 $1,064,056 $1,103,450

Federated States of Micronesia $0 $0 $0 $98,996 $98,456

Florida $8,294,131 $8,644,793 $8,877,156 $8,971,754 $9,053,930

Georgia $4,488,599 $4,638,552 $4,728,475 $4,837,336 $4,884,643

Guam $120,116 $123,679 $124,712 $124,141 $123,845

Hawaii $1,207,702 $1,221,833 $1,226,683 $1,334,393 $1,366,010

Idaho $1,301,743 $1,331,679 $1,355,116 $1,475,703 $1,524,829

Illinois $5,408,824 $5,539,108 $4,197,554 $5,619,426 $5,594,765

Indiana $3,130,216 $3,210,443 $3,255,404 $3,358,276 $3,388,738

Iowa $1,837,940 $1,873,979 $1,816,284 $1,996,489 $2,030,383

Kansas $1,753,938 $1,785,699 $1,800,508 $1,904,455 $1,927,141

Kentucky $2,318,996 $2,370,622 $2,399,688 $2,496,185 $2,527,254

Louisiana $2,409,384 $2,457,975 $2,172,724 $2,270,083 $2,590,821
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State FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021

Maine $1,171,842 $1,187,054 $1,195,092 $1,307,113 $1,344,502

Maryland $2,902,445 $2,977,151 $3,005,571 $3,096,917 $3,124,301

Massachusetts $3,196,237 $3,283,698 $3,336,328 $3,419,294 $3,441,168

Michigan $4,347,464 $4,461,273 $4,526,980 $4,597,286 $4,603,447

Minnesota $2,719,042 $2,796,644 $2,839,491 $2,727,652 $2,945,597

Mississippi $1,784,020 $1,812,638 $1,457,232 $1,498,515 $1,769,132

Missouri $2,930,723 $3,000,439 $3,037,797 $3,131,845 $3,160,515

Montana $1,065,102 $1,078,723 $1,088,834 $1,202,258 $1,242,546

Nebraska $1,384,479 $1,408,780 $1,422,489 $1,455,674 $1,518,108

Nevada $1,766,043 $1,817,929 $1,847,802 $1,967,970 $2,020,813

New Hampshire $1,132,809 $1,189,668 $1,202,040 $1,313,013 $1,350,605

New Jersey $3,984,042 $4,098,162 $4,108,490 $4,176,749 $4,193,381

New Mexico $1,448,716 $1,472,543 $1,486,436 $1,593,627 $1,630,508

New York $7,973,810 $8,213,994 $8,200,921 $8,201,170 $8,147,500

North Carolina $4,428,172 $4,579,356 $4,676,190 $4,788,098 $4,843,343

North Dakota $959,984 $966,715 $972,520 $1,085,494 $1,123,304

Northern Marianas $79,750 $79,735 $79,904 $79,580 $79,539

Ohio $4,970,291 $5,105,116 $5,178,743 $5,245,313 $5,256,514

Oklahoma $2,129,344 $2,079,542 $2,006,878 $2,040,924 $2,065,385

Oregon $2,192,105 $2,252,423 $2,292,818 $2,401,036 $2,438,090

Palau $0 $0 $0 $68,255 $68,175

Pennsylvania $5,402,429 $5,540,441 $5,608,864 $5,668,980 $5,668,793

Puerto Rico $1,938,456 $1,946,652 $1,909,671 $1,917,413 $1,614,152

Republic of the Marshall Islands $0 $0 $0 $89,662 $89,816

Rhode Island $1,070,238 $1,082,194 $1,086,913 $1,198,673 $1,233,676

South Carolina $2,512,612 $2,587,038 $2,636,653 $2,755,451 $2,807,439

South Dakota $999,694 $1,010,089 $1,019,533 $1,132,165 $1,171,493

Tennessee $3,136,917 $3,229,104 $3,285,474 $3,395,186 $3,438,619

Texas $10,972,302 $11,423,230 $11,726,054 $11,833,840 $11,938,821

Utah $1,807,104 $1,857,325 $1,896,568 $2,015,862 $2,063,031

Vermont $910,722 $916,715 $921,034 $1,032,931 $1,069,610

Virgin Islands $98,030 $100,604 $101,037 $100,443 $100,043

Virginia $3,760,044 $3,894,862 $3,958,075 $4,044,775 $4,083,012

Washington $3,372,150 $3,490,908 $3,580,111 $3,694,301 $3,743,762

West Virginia $1,356,400 $1,369,223 $1,361,510 $1,477,637 $1,498,000

Wisconsin $2,724,256 $2,879,721 $2,917,382 $3,011,929 $3,039,902

Wyoming $896,281 $899,885 $902,345 $1,015,712 $1,054,096
13

DISCRETIONARY GRANTS 

Map 2: FY 2020 Library Discretionary Grant Distribution

Please visit IMLS.gov/#imls-map to explore interactive award data. 

The Office of Library Services offers five funding opportunities: National Leadership Grants 

for Libraries, Native American Library Services Basic Grants, Native American Library Services 

Enhancement Grants, Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian 

Program.
14

National Leadership Grants for Libraries

FY 2022 Budget Request: $13,406,000

This program supports projects that enhance the 

quality of library and archive services nationwide 

by advancing theory and practice. Successful 

proposals will generate results such as new tools, 

research findings, models, services, practices, 

or collaborative approaches that will be widely 

used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the 

benefits of federal investment.

In FY 2022, the goals of the National Leadership 

Grants for Libraries program are to:

• build the workforce and institutional capacity 

for managing the national information 

infrastructure and serving the information and 

education needs of the public;

• build the capacity of libraries and archives to 

lead and contribute to efforts that improve 

community well-being and strengthen civic 

engagement;

• improve the ability of libraries and archives to 

provide broad access to and use of information 

and collections with emphasis on collaboration 

to avoid duplication and maximize reach;

• strengthen the ability of libraries to provide 

services to affected communities in the event 

of an emergency or disaster;

• strengthen the ability of libraries, archives, 

and museums to work collaboratively for the 

benefit of the communities they serve.

National Leadership Grants for Libraries: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF PRELIMINARY 

PROPOSALS 

NUMBER OF INVITED 

APPLICATIONS 

NUMBER OF 

AWARDS 

FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

155 85 42 $41,412,946 $11,052,195 $2,836,024 

Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants

FY 2022 Budget Request: $5,263,000

The following three programs are designed 

to assist Native American Tribes and Native 

Hawaiian libraries in improving core services 

for their communities. Information needs and 

approaches to meeting them are evolving at an 

unprecedented pace in all communities, and to 

operate within this environment effectively for 

the benefit of their users, libraries must be able 

to both strengthen existing services and move 

quickly to adopt new and emerging technologies. 

Native American Library Services Basic Grants

Native American Library Services Basic Grants 

are awarded non-competitively. This program 

is designed to assist Native American Tribes 

in improving core library services for their 

communities.

The goals of the Native American Library 

Services Basic Grants program are to:

• improve services for learning and accessing 

information in a variety of formats to support 

needs for education, workforce development, 

economic and business development, health 

information, critical thinking skills, digital 

literacy skills, and financial literacy and other 

types of literacy skills; and

• enhance the skills of the current library 

workforce and leadership through training, 

continuing education, and opportunities for 

professional development.
15

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants

Native American Library Services Enhancement 

Grants are awarded competitively. This program 

is designed to assist Native American Tribes 

in improving core library services for their 

communities.

The goals of the Native American Library 

Services Enhancement Grants program are to:

• improve digital services to support needs for 

education, workforce development, economic 

and business development, health information, 

critical thinking skills, and digital literacy skills;

• improve educational programs related to 

specific topics and content areas of interest to 

library patrons and community-based users; 

and 

• enhance the preservation and revitalization of 

Native American cultures and languages.

Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants

This program is designed to assist Native 

Hawaiian libraries in improving core library 

services for their communities.

The goals of the Native Hawaiian Library Services 

Grants program are to:

• improve digital services to support needs for 

education, workforce development, economic 

and business development, health information, 

critical thinking skills, and digital literacy skills; 

• improve educational programs related to 

specific topics and content areas of interest to 

library patrons and community-based users; 

and

• enhance the preservation and revitalization of 

Native Hawaiian culture and language.

Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Service Programs: FY 2020

PROGRAM NUMBER OF 

APPLICATIONS 

NUMBER OF 

AWARDS 

FUNDS 

REQUESTED 

FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST 

SHARE 

Basic Grants (non-competitive) 175 172 $1,864,335 $1,834,336 $0* 

Enhancement Grants 37 23 $4,894,379 $3,010,492 $82,549 

Native Hawaiian 8 3 $1,130,339 $418,172 $132,910 

Total 220 198 $7,889,053 $5,263,000 $215,459 

*Matching funds are not required for Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Service Programs.
16

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program 

FY 2022 Budget Request: $10,000,000

This program supports developing a diverse 

workforce of librarians to better meet the 

changing learning and information needs of the 

American public by enhancing the training and 

professional development of library and archives 

professionals; developing faculty and library 

leaders; and recruiting, educating, and retaining 

the next generation of library and archives 

professionals.

In FY 2022, the goals of the Laura Bush 21st 

Century Librarian Program are to:

• recruit, train, develop, and retain a diverse 

workforce of library and archives; 

• develop faculty, library, and archives leaders 

by increasing the institutional capacity of 

libraries, archives, and of graduate schools of 

library and information science; and 

• enhance the training and professional 

development of the library and archival 

workforce to meet the needs of their 

communities. 

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program: FY 2020

NUMBER OF 

PRELIMINARY 

PROPOSALS 

NUMBER OF INVITED 

APPLICATIONS 

NUMBER OF 

AWARDS 

FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST 

SHARE 

113 65 37 $32,652,404 $9,850,000 $1,650,724 
17

MUSEUM SERVICES

Map 3: FY 2020 Museum Discretionary Grant Distribution

Please visit IMLS.gov/#imls-map to explore interactive award data. 

DISCRETIONARY GRANTS 

The Office of Museum Services offers six 

competitive funding opportunities: Museums 

for America, Inspire! Grants for Small Museums 

and Museums Empowered (two special initiatives 

of the Museums for America program), National 

Leadership Grants for Museums, Native 

American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services, 

Museum Grants for African American History 

and Culture, and the new Museum Grants for 

American Latino History and Culture. 
18

Museums for America

FY 2022 Budget Request: $26,899,000

The Museums for America (MFA) grant program 

supports projects intended to strengthen the 

ability of an individual museum to serve its 

public. This program supports museums of all 

types and all sizes by investing in high-priority 

activities that are clearly linked to a museum’s 

strategic plan and enhance its value to its 

community.

For FY 2022, the goals of the MFA program are to: 

• Empower people of all ages and backgrounds 

through experiential and cross-disciplinary 

learning and discovery;

• Maximize the use of museum resources 

to address community needs through 

partnerships and collaborations; and 

• Manage and care for collections and their 

associated documentation.

Museums for America: FY 2020

NUMBER OF 

APPLICATIONS 

NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

345 109 $80,235,240 $19,673,947 $30,953,582 

Inspire! Grants for Small Museums 

Inspire! Grants for Small Museums is a special 

initiative of the Museums for America grant 

program. 

Inspire! Grants are designed to support projects 

that build the capacity of small museums. This 

program supports small museums by investing 

in high-priority activities that are clearly linked 

to the museum’s strategic plan and enhance its 

value to its community.

For FY 2022, the goals of the Inspire program are 

to: 

• empower people of all ages and backgrounds 

through experiential and cross-disciplinary 

learning and discovery; 

• build the capacity of small museums to work 

more effectively; and 

• manage and care for collections and their 

associated documentation. 

Inspire! Grants for Small Museums*: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

230 60 $8,828,584 $2,516,805 $1,179,367 

*A special funding opportunity within Museums for America. Matching funds are not required for this program.
19

Museums Empowered

Museums Empowered is a special initiative of the 

Museums for America program. 

The Museums Empowered grant program 

supports projects that use the transformative 

power of professional development and training 

to generate systemic change within a museum.

This grant program supports museums of all 

types and sizes by investing in the professional 

development of museum staff, leadership, and 

volunteers to enhance their skills and ensure 

the highest standards in all aspects of museum 

operations. The funding opportunity focuses on 

four areas of relevant needs in the museum field: 

Digital Technology, Diversity and Inclusion, 

Evaluation, and Organizational Management. 

For FY 2022, the goals of the Museums 

Empowered program are to empower museum 

staff through professional development to:

• integrate digital technology with museum 

operations and communications, audience 

engagement, or collections care and 

management; 

• support diversity and inclusion efforts that 

provide inclusive services to people of diverse 

geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic 

backgrounds and to individuals with disabilities; 

• use evaluation as a tool to shape museum 

programs and improve outcomes; and 

• improve organizational management 

and generate an innovative, resilient, and 

sustainable organizational culture.

Museums Empowered*: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

56 21 $9,134,481 $3,708,248 $4,242,229 

*A special funding opportunity within Museums for America.

National Leadership Grants for Museums

FY 2022 Budget Request: $8,113,000

The National Leadership Grants for Museums 

(NLG-M) program is designed to support projects 

that address critical needs of the museum 

field and that have the potential to advance 

practice in the profession so that museums can 

strengthen service for the American public. This 

program supports projects that have far-reaching 

impact to influence practice across one or more 

disciplines or specific fields within the museum 

sector; that reflect a thorough understanding 

of current practice and knowledge about the 

subject matter, and an awareness of and support 

for current strategic initiatives and agendas 

in the field; that employ novel approaches or 

techniques new to the project area; that use 

collaboration to demonstrate broad need, fieldwide buy-in and input, and access to appropriate 

expertise; and that generate results such as 

models, new tools, research findings, services, 

practices, and/or alliances that can be widely 

used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and 

leverage the benefits of federal investment. 

For FY 2022, the goals of the National Leadership 

Grants for Museums program are to advance the 

museum field’s ability to: 

• empower people of all ages and backgrounds 

through experiential and cross-disciplinary 

learning and discovery; 

• maximize the use of museum resources 

to address community needs through 

partnerships and collaborations; and 

• identify new solutions that address high 

priority and widespread collections care or 

conservation issues.

National Leadership Grants for Museums: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

67 19 $37,152,575 $8,112,040 $5,967,295 
20

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services

FY 2022 Budget Request: $2,272,000

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum 

Services (NANH) is designed to support 

Indian Tribes and organizations that primarily 

serve and represent Native Hawaiians in 

sustaining heritage, culture, and knowledge 

through exhibitions, educational services and 

programming, professional development, and 

collections stewardship.

For FY 2022, the goals of the Native American/

Native Hawaiian Museum Services program are 

to: 

• empower people of all ages and backgrounds 

through experiential and cross-disciplinary 

learning and discovery; 

• build the capacity of Indian Tribes and 

organizations that primarily serve and represent 

Native Hawaiians to work more effectively; 

• advance the management and care of Native 

American and Native Hawaiian collections and 

their associated documentation.

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE* 

28 21 $2,575,069 $1,772,000 $360,328 

* Matching funds are not required for this program.

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture

FY 2022 Budget Request: $5,231,000

The Museum Grants for African American 

History and Culture (AAHC) program builds 

the capacity of African American museums to 

preserve and make available their collections to 

the public, supports the growth and development 

of museum professionals at African American 

museums, and increases access to museum and 

archival collections and educational programs 

at African American museums and Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

In FY 2022, the goals of the AAHC program are to:

• build the capacity of African American 

museums by improving operations and care of 

collections; 

• support the growth and development of 

museum professionals at African American 

museums; 

• Support internship and fellowship 

opportunities at African American museums 

and scholarships with the purpose of assisting 

individuals who are pursuing careers in African 

American history and culture.

• Expand educational programming.

IMLS requests a small increase in funding 

for the Agency’s Museum Grants for African 

American History and Culture (AAHC) grant 

program, which supports the unique mission of 

these museums by funding a range of activities 

to advance professional development, build 

organizational capacity, and increase public 

access to collections. Since its establishment, 

IMLS has supported 110 organizations in 31 

States. While appropriations for AAHC grants 

are statutorily authorized at $15 million per year, 

under P.L. 108-84, the Agency has only been 

able to carry out a small part of the statutorily 

authorized activities with its limited funding. 
21

Although the Agency is aware of significant need 

for internship and fellowship opportunities, 

and scholarship support for individuals who are 

pursuing the study of African American life, art, 

history, and culture, the Agency’s program has 

not been able to meet this need nor enhanced 

educational programming. 

A 2020 program evaluation report done in 

collaboration with a third-party contractor has 

shown the need for continued strengthening of 

African American museum operations, especially 

given the effects of the pandemic. An increase 

would assist toward those goals highlighted by 

African American museum stakeholders as well 

as take a substantive step in realizing the full 

spectrum of activities in the African American 

History and Culture Act.

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture: FY 2020 

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS NUMBER OF AWARDS FUNDS REQUESTED FUNDS AWARDED MATCH/COST SHARE 

58 22 $8,226,629 $2,731,000 $2,584,312 

Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture 

FY 2022 Budget Request: $4,000,000

IMLS requests funding to implement the 

education provisions of the National Museum 

of the American Latino Act (“American Latino 

Act”), which was recently enacted into law on 

December 27, 2020 (P.L. 116-260). The legislation 

closely aligns with the Administration’s goals 

for equity and social justice per the President’s 

Executive Order 13985 and recognizes the 

contributions of the nation’s 60 million Latino 

Americans. The Act authorizes $15 million per 

year for IMLS to carry out its statutory purpose 

of recognizing, celebrating, and enhancing 

understanding of the important history and 

contributions of American Latinos through the 

following programs of financial support: 

• a grant program with the purpose of improving 

operations, care of collections, culturally 

appropriate public outreach, and development 

of professional management at American 

Latino museums; 

• a grant program with the purpose of providing 

internship and fellowship opportunities at 

American Latino museums; 

• a scholarship program—in partnership with 

Hispanic-serving institutions, minorityserving institutions, historically black colleges 

and universities, and other institutions of 

higher education, with the purpose of assisting 

individuals who are pursuing careers or 

carrying out studies in the arts, humanities, 

and sciences in the study of American Latino 

life, art, history, and culture;

• a grant program —in cooperation with other 

museums, historical societies, and educational 

institutions, with the purpose of promoting the 

understanding of the Latin American diaspora 

in the United States; and 

• a grant program — under which an American 

Latino museum may use funds provided under 

the grant to increase an endowment fund 

established by the museum for the purposes 

of enhancing educational programming, 

and maintaining and operating traveling 

educational exhibits. 

IMLS requests an initial funding level of 

$4,000,000 to establish the framework for 

programs of support and provide financial 

assistance to American Latino museums and 

related organizations to elevate the stories, 

contributions, and experiences of Latino 

Americans. 
22

DATA COLLECTION, RESEARCH, AND EVALUATION

FY 2022 Budget Request: $4,513,000

IMLS requests $4,513,000 to collect data, carry 

out research, and identify best practices in 

cooperation with the nation’s libraries and 

museums. The Museum and Library Service 

Act authorizes the Director of IMLS to annually 

conduct policy research, analysis, and data 

collection with ongoing collaboration (as 

determined appropriate by the Director), and in 

consultation, with (1) state library administrative 

agencies; (2) national, state, and regional library 

and museum organizations; and (3) other 

relevant agencies and organizations.

IMLS manages the nationwide Public Libraries 

Survey, a federal statistical program that 

identifies service trends, and public use of 

museum, library, and information services. 

It also supports other nationally recognized 

statistical surveys, including the State Library 

Administrative Agency (SLAA) survey. In addition 

to these national surveys, IMLS conducts studies 

of our programs and the populations affected, 

including evaluations of existing programs, 

assessments of innovative approaches to 

museum and library services, research syntheses, 

and descriptive and exploratory studies. 

Funding within this program also will support 

grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency 

agreements to explore additional research, data 

collection, and evaluation initiatives to address 

additional needs of the museum and library 

fields.

DATA COLLECTION

Public Libraries Survey 

The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) is an annual 

survey of the nation’s approximately 9,300 

local public library systems that provides 

information on key metrics of library health 

and services across the United States and the 

outlying territories. The PLS provides reliable 

and objective data in a wide variety of formats 

used by scholars and researchers to inform 

policy decisions. IMLS uses this federal statistical 

data to analyze long-term trends in how public 

libraries serve their communities, including a 

summary report highlighting salient findings, 

research briefs delving into important topics of 

national concern, and public use data files to 

enable others to use the evidence. 

Two recent examples of usage include the 

January 2021 research brief on the use and 

cost of public library materials that established 

the baseline for prior availability and usage of 

electronic materials with FY 2014 and FY 2018 

data from before the COVID-19 pandemic to 

better measure the impact of the pandemic on 

library services in FY 2021 and beyond. The 

Agency also coordinated with Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) on adding the PLS 

data to FEMA’s COVID-19 Data and Assessment 

Portal (CDAP), meant to enhance the capability of 

federal agencies to assess recovery-focused data, 

and which incorporates a variety of data sets 

across multiple topic areas (e.g., the economy, 

healthcare, vulnerable populations).

An FY 2022 priority is to continue improving 

the effectiveness of updating the annual survey 

questionnaire to increase its relevance while 

also ensuring retention of historically superhigh response rates nearing 100% across all the 

country’s local public library systems, reflecting 

the high degree of cooperation between IMLS 

and its state partners. FY 2022 priorities also 

focus on new, in-depth reporting on pertinent 

topics, including the disruption caused by 

COVID pandemic on public libraries across 

the country as well as an examination of the 

importance of geographic proximity estimating 

household demand for children’s library services 

based on that household’s proximity to a local 

library branch using PLS and U.S. Department 

of Education’s National Household Education 

Survey data. IMLS additionally aspires to expand 

a pilot started this year between GSA’s 10X/18F 

innovation program and IMLS to do real-time 

reporting on Wi-Fi use and other key metrics in 

public libraries. 
23

State Library Administrative Agency Survey 

The State Library Administrative Agency Survey 

is conducted every two years and provides 

descriptive information about the current 

state and health of state library administrative 

agencies. IMLS produces a summary report of 

the overall survey findings and a public use 

data file, which are used by the Chief Officers 

of State and Library Agencies, federal policy 

makers, government and library administrators 

at federal, state, and local levels, researchers, 

and the American Library Association. FY 

2022 priorities involve introducing a series 

of topical reports, including assessing the 

disruption that the COVID pandemic has caused 

state library administrative agencies and the 

libraries they serve within their jurisdictions. 

IMLS also intends to work with its state 

partners to comprehensively review this survey 

questionnaire and update it for administering 

the next biennial survey involving FY 2022 

activities. 

Museum Universe Survey

IMLS created the publicly accessible Museum 

Universe Data Files in 2016 to estimate known 

museums and similar organizations (e.g., zoos, 

botanic gardens, historic sites) across all the 

communities in the United States. This data file 

was last updated in 2018 to help policymakers 

at the federal, state, and local level, associations 

such as the American Alliance of Museums, 

researchers, and the public model and conduct 

research with overlaying other data sets. In 

FY 2022, IMLS will proceed in partnership 

with others in and around the museum 

sector to introduce a national survey of all 

museums to support the needs for evidence 

from policymakers, museum administrators, 

researchers, and other interested parties.

RESEARCH

REopening Archives, Libraries, and 

Museums (REALM) Project

In late March 2020, the Agency took initial 

steps to help identify and respond to the needs 

of collecting institutions by hosting a webinar 

with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to 

provide information for libraries and museums 

and their staff and patrons to address the 

unique challenges of mitigating COVID-19 

when managing their collections, spaces, 

and public interactions. The need to provide 

more information to libraries, archives, and 

museums about the important and existential 

problems facing them in the COVID-19 global 

pandemic was clear, and IMLS established a 

cooperative agreement with OCLC and Battelle. 

The project has drawn upon scientific research 

and Battelle laboratory work to produce, 

widely disseminate, and periodically update 

evidence-based information that has informed 

operational considerations for reducing the risk 

of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through libraries, 

archive, and museums to their staff and visitors. 

IMLS exercised its fundraising authorities to 

fund the majority of the project. As such, the 

REALM project was made possible in part with 

support from the Institute of Museum and 

Library Services, the Library of Congress, The 

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Carnegie 

Corporation of New York. 

The project conducted laboratory tests to assess 

the attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 on materials 

common in libraries, archives, and museums 

(LAM); continually assesses emergent published 

research for applicable scientific information 

which can be applied to the LAM community 

risk-based decision making; and is providing 

a website and toolkits in the form of webinars, 

infographics, videos, and other materials with 

the goal of informing local policies, operations, 

and space configuration decisions that support 

reopening and operations within a SARS-CoV-2 

environment. The project website (https://www.

oclc.org/realm/about.html) contains the status of 

the project and its publications.
24

The REALM project continues to address the 

needs of the LAM community as the pandemic 

evolves. In FY 2022, the project is continuing 

its support in areas of vaccine confidence, 

continued scientific literature analysis for 

operational applicability, equity in access to 

resources to address the digital divide and SARSCoV-2 response, capacity building to meet public 

health and safety standards and digital/hybrid 

services, and the capture of lessons learned for 

future emergency response.

Social Wellbeing Research 

IMLS seeks to help facilitate national-level 

research on issues that can inform ways that 

museums and libraries can contribute to improve 

the overall social wellbeing in the communities 

they serve and the nation as a whole. During 

FY 2022, the Agency plans to disseminate two 

commissioned studies completed in FY 2021 

that examined the contributions of museum 

and library activities to various dimensions of 

community quality of life across the wide variety 

of American locales with planned convenings 

with policymakers, Museum and Library leaders, 

and researchers in sharing the key learnings. 

The intent is for these discussions to facilitate 

potential adaptations on ways to improving 

practices in the museum and library sectors as 

well as to deepen scholarly understanding on 

this topic.

EVALUATION

Equity

In support of the Administration’s “Build Back 

Better” racial and social justice priorities and the 

President’s Executive Order 13985 Advancing 

Racial Equity and Support for Underserved 

Communities, IMLS also requests $1 million in 

funding to enable the Agency to gather data for 

evidence-based policy actions to achieve the 

Administration’s goals of breaking systemic 

barriers.

Native American and Native Hawaiian 

Program Evaluation 

Throughout IMLS’s history across more than 

two decades, the Agency has proactively 

administered grantmaking to serve the 

specific needs of Native American Tribes and 

organizations that primarily serve and represent 

Native Hawaiians. During FY 2022, IMLS plans 

to conduct an independent evaluation of this 

grantmaking to better understand the areas 

where the program has best succeeded and to 

identify new areas where the grantmaking can 

better help Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian 

organizations serve the cultural needs of their 

communities.
25

III. IMLS Administration 

INTRODUCTION

This section highlights the FY 2022 administrative funding request of $16,500,000 for the IMLS’s 

financial management, including acquisition functions and financial reporting; human capital 

management; grants management; IT; and communications. IMLS remains committed to effective 

stewardship of administrative dollars with this request. 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

The Agency partners with the Federal Aviation 

Administration–Enterprise Services Center (FAAESC) for our accounting and financial reporting 

services. The ability to partner with one of the 

Centers of Excellence designated by OMB affords 

us the opportunity to receive the numerous 

benefits a shared service provider can offer, at 

affordable costs. IMLS, in coordination with the 

ESC, continues to update our Data Act reporting 

architecture to implement new reporting 

requirements required as part of awarding and 

tracking the spending of CARES Act and ARP Act 

funds. 

The Agency continued to focus on creating 

automated, system-driven solutions to our 

systems that feed our financial systems to 

gain efficiencies and increase transparency. 

These changes will improve operational 

efficiencies, imbed additional controls in our 

automated processes, and optimize the use of 

improved technology. The Agency continues to 

leverage the core competencies of our federal 

partners, including engaging with the National 

Endowment for the Humanities in the fully 

implemented eGMS grants management system 

and the Agency-wide implementation of a 

fully integrated acquisition system to improve 

controls and increase accountability in the 

procurement function. 

In FY 2022 IMLS plans to leverage the benefits 

of implementing PRISM in FY 2021. PRISM is an 

automated acquisitions system that interfaces 

with the Agency’s Delphi accounting system. 

This implementation will allow the Agency 

to further strengthen funds controls over the 

acquisition process and will provide real-time 

reporting on contract obligations and spending.

OFFICE SPACE

The Agency entered a 10-year occupancy 

agreement with GSA to occupy 27,714 square feet 

of office space at 955 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, in the 

District of Columbia, and the Agency relocated 

into the space in March of 2016. This occupancy 

agreement includes a tenant improvement 

allowance of approximately $1,100,000 which 

covered improvements for occupancy by the 

Agency.

TRAVEL

To minimize costs associated with our two 

annual conferences the Agency conducts 

cost analysis for identifying the host city that 

provides the best value. The Agency will continue 

to maximize cost savings from our automated 

travel booking system by building additional 

automated controls to reduce per trip costs while 

meeting the mission of the Agency. 

The Agency is planning to evaluate the 

effectiveness and efficiency of the use of all 

virtual review panels in FY 2021 to focus on 

opportunities to continue to reduce travel costs 

by leveraging virtual meeting technologies.
26

HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

HIRING 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all federal 

agencies experienced the daunting challenge of 

moving from an in-person to a virtual working 

environment. IMLS rose to this challenge with 

minor issues and has successfully operated 

in a virtual remote work environment since 

March 14, 2020. Although working in a virtual/

remote environment has its challenges, IMLS has 

navigated through these challenges with little to 

no interruption in its continuity of operations. 

IMLS’s objective is to successfully strengthen 

the recruitment and retention of staff, focusing 

on the goals within the Agency’s Strategic 

Management Plan and most recent Federal 

Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) scores as a 

source of information to develop our recruitment 

and retention strategy. In developing the 

Agency’s recruitment and retention strategy, 

IMLS will leverage the formal and informal 

networks of the library, archives, and museum 

sectors to develop effective strategies to market, 

recruit and attract a more diverse applicant pool 

for position vacancies. 

IMLS plans to develop and coordinate effective 

strategies to attract and recruit a more diverse 

applicant pool, such as underrepresented 

groups, geographic regions, and academic and 

professional disciplines for position vacancies. 

Through strengthening its recruitment efforts, 

IMLS’s goal is to build and evolve on the 

Agency’s current employee training options 

with additional resources (e.g., employee 

developmental training, coaching, and 

mentoring). In addition to strengthening the 

Agency’s employee development program, 

IMLS will review its current Telework Plan to 

determine feasible ways to expand the Telework 

Plan post-pandemic and continue offering 

various hiring flexibilities and incentive options 

(e.g., Student Loan Repayment and Recruitment/

Retention).

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE VIEWPOINT SURVEY 

IMPROVEMENT SCORES

IMLS is proud to announce our highest 

achievement in our 2020 Federal Employee 

Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) results for our Agency. 

The outcome of the 2020 FEVS indicates a 

significant positive increase of 78% across all 

three (3) assessed areas within the Engagement 

Indices. The resiliency of our employees and 

support from our Leadership Team through 

the COVID-19 pandemic have reinforced our 

commitment to support our staff, increase our 

responsiveness, and strengthen our employee 

engagement practices. 

IMLS employees’ response rate to the survey 

was 90%, and the responses provided critical 

feedback to leadership and supervisors. The 

Agency’s highest-scoring areas related to (a) 

employee collaborative effort to complete work; 

(b) Agency’s success to achieve its mission; (c) 

job-relevant knowledge and skills necessary 

to accomplish organization goals across work 

units; (d) recognizing alignment of work to 

Agency goals; and (e) respectful engagement by 

supervisors.

2020 FEVS Highlights

• 90% FEVS staff participation rate.

• 30 identified strengths scored 65% or higher 

positive increase compared to 21 identified 

strengths in 2019.

• 0% negative challenges were identified 

compared to 26 negative challenges in 2019. 

• Agency’s Engagement Index increased to 78% 

compared to 52% in 2019.

• Leaders Lead increased to 67% compared to 27% 

in 2019.

• Supervisors increased to 86% compared to 69% 

in 2019.

• Intrinsic Work Experience increased to 82% 

compared to 61% in 2019.
27

Through continuous collaboration with the 

IMLS staff, we’re committed to sustaining 

an organizational culture that focuses on 

strengthening employee engagement, increasing 

recruitment efforts, and leadership development 

to enhance our service to the American public. 

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STRATEGIC 

PLAN 

At IMLS, Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are 

a priority for all leaders, managers, and 

employees, and we strive to foster belonging 

and empowerment for every individual in our 

workplace. We recognize that our employees 

are our most important asset. We’re obligated 

to build and nurture an inclusive workplace 

where everyone feels valued and respected 

because of their difference—a place where every 

employee can be themselves so they can reach 

their potential and help us achieve our Agency’s 

mission.

IMLS is committed to integrating our Diversity 

and Inclusion Strategic Plan into our everyday 

practices to strengthen our organizational 

culture by ensuring a respectful, equitable, fair, 

inclusive, and diverse workforce. We want our 

Agency’s workplace to be innovative, creative, 

and productive so we can deliver the best 

service to our customers and their beneficiaries 

across America; we need diversity to help us 

achieve this. The more we collaborate and value 

differences, the closer we get to having a truly 

inclusive workplace. 

Our 2021–2025 Diversity and Inclusion Strategic 

Plan goals target the following: (1). Ensure 

Leadership commitment to foster diversity and 

inclusion at all levels throughout the Agency, 

(2). Promote diversity and inclusion through 

continuous learning opportunities, (3). Foster a 

diverse and inclusive workplace culture, and (4). 

Recruit, hire, advance, and promote individuals 

from diverse, underrepresented, and underserved 

communities. We are excited to implement our 

D&I Plan collectively and continuously improve 

our efforts to ensure a thriving workplace for all 

employees. 

TELEWORK

IMLS continues to operate under a maximum 

telework policy during the pandemic. IMLS 

created an internal survey committee to focus 

on telework and other key areas during the 

pandemic. Based on several internal surveys 

administered by the Agency’s leadership team, 

telework has increased productivity and staff are 

highly satisfied with teleworking creating a better 

work-life balance for staff. Staff is wanting IMLS 

to promote a greater telework, post-pandemic 

or foreseeable future. IMLS staff have a “very 

good” level of well-being while teleworking and 

addressing any areas of concerns, which is “very 

low.” 94% of the Agency staff were “very satisfied” 

with the support of Agency supplies and 

equipment issued during the pandemic creating 

the high level of productivity. IMLS is committed 

and continues to have open dialogue and engage 

with the staff their comfort level with respect to 

telework as it relates to the current pandemic. 

IMLS continues to articulate managerial 

responsibilities to be in touch with staff and 

to manage a remote workforce effectively. The 

Agency continues to communicate the various 

workplace flexibilities so staff can balance 

workload and dependent care and homeschooling challenges. IMLS will continue to 

discuss findings and recommendations and 

continue to engage staff for feedback.

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE REQUEST

For FY 2022, IMLS is requesting two additional 

full-time federal employees to carry out the 

core work of the Agency. Further administrative 

support is needed to deliver community 

and stakeholder customer service for the 

Administration’s new priorities and ongoing 

Agency programmatic commitments. 

The President and Congress recently authorized 

a new program of support for American Latino 

museums throughout the country and enhanced 

support for museums of African American 

History and Culture. The Agency requests 

support for an additional program officer to help 

develop the framework of funding and manage 
28

grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements in 

these areas while also maintaining continuity of 

regular grant and programmatic operations.

In support of the Administration’s “Build Back 

Better” racial and social justice priorities and the 

President’s Executive Order 13985 Advancing 

Racial Equity and Support for Underserved 

Communities, IMLS also seeks to establish a 

strategic engagement and capacity-building 

position and cohort that supports outreach to 

potential applicant and grantee communities 

that have been historically underrepresented 

in or underserved by Federal programs. This 

position would inform and drive stakeholder 

outreach and consultation, as well as support the 

Agency’s institutional commitment to making 

measurable gains in expanding the access and 

reach of our grantmaking framework. 

These two positions are necessary to improve 

the services to the Agency’s internal employees 

and outside partners at a minimal cost. With an 

extremely lean staff and administrative budget, 

the Agency delivers enormous public value in 

strengthening museum, library, and information 

services throughout the nation. These positions 

would maintain the long-term and ongoing 

delivery of services in keeping with the Agency’s 

recognized efficiency and transparency.

GRANTS MANAGEMENT

In October 2019, IMLS officially transitioned 

its grants management functions from an 

obsolete relational database that was used in 

conjunction with email to eGMS, a web-based 

system with more powerful capabilities to 

create, edit, store, search, extract, and maintain 

grant files and records. eGMS improves Agency 

efficiency through using a system-to-system 

interface to capture data from applications to all 

IMLS discretionary grant programs submitted 

through Grants.gov; providing a mechanism for 

direct communication and file sharing among 

Agency staff and awardees; and enabling staff to 

create a variety of grants management reports 

such as Applicant/Awardee Contacts, Audit 

Trail, Completed Reviews, Program Funding 

Recommendations, Application and Award Data 

Export, Application and Award History, Award 

Payments, USASpending, WebADI, and Closeout 

WebADI reports. 

Because eGMS is now the official system of 

record for all aspects of grants management 

from application receipt through closeouts, 

work is ongoing to troubleshoot aspects of 

system functionality, customize reports to 

meet user needs, create tools to monitor and 

manage internal grants management activities, 

and implement modifications to accommodate 

changes in government-wide practices. eGMS 

is also central to our new data-oriented website 

that better articulates IMLS’s reach and impact.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: DATA, CYBERSECURITY, AND AI

In FY 2021 and continuing in FY 2022 and 

beyond, IMLS is focused on harnessing 

technology to bring relevant data and analytical 

insight to decision makers, the public, and the 

communities we serve when and where they 

need it. To reduce burden and increase accuracy 

in annual federal statistical data collections, 

IMLS is piloting automation. IMLS launched a 

new IMLS.gov website with greater access to 

IMLS grant data than ever before. Underlying 

the IMLS data initiatives are a Data Warehousing 

project, data standards, and a commitment to 

transparency. In FY 2022, the IMLS intends 

to expand automation, formalize initial data 

management processes, and expand data access, 

interoperability, and analytical capabilities. As 
29

data transitions from silos to an operational 

enterprise asset, IMLS will update processes and 

standards to continue the assurance of timely, 

accurate, objective, and relevant statistical 

data within the Library, Museum and Archives 

community. 

In FY 2021, IMLS is focused on refining its IT 

Security Architecture, system level security, 

maturing enterprise cyber security operations, 

and IT security workforce development. 

IMLS filled its first Chief Information Security 

Officer position and has also improved 

security personnel skills through training and 

certifications. Continuing in FY 2022, IMLS will 

improve asset management, complete a full 

independent system assessment and upgrade 

of internal systems level security, transform 

network security through a zero-trust capable–

modern TIC 3.0 compliant architecture, and will 

ensure the same level of IT security exists for 

both remote and on-premises end points. 

In FY 2021, IMLS is piloting the application of 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

(AI/ML) technologies to reduce administrative 

burden and improve operational efficiencies. In 

FY 2022, IMLS intends to move successful pilots 

into production. One promising pilot, if realized, 

has the potential of saving thousands of hours 

in labor intensive validation checks associated 

with grant applications each year. Further, these 

savings alone can eliminate multiple weeks 

of processing time per grant program. IMLS is 

committed to the implementation of ethical and 

bias-free AI models and will participate in the 

Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice.

COMMUNICATIONS

IMLS continues to develop its digital services and 

use emerging technologies to serve the public 

as effectively as possible. In FY 2019, Congress 

passed the 21st Century Integrated Digital 

Experience Act to improve the digital experience 

for government customers and reinforce existing 

requirements for federal public websites. IMLS 

has prioritized modernizing its websites and 

digital services as required by the act and to the 

extent possible, within the level of resources 

requested. This includes being accessible to 

individuals with disabilities in accordance with 

Section 508, having a consistent appearance, 

using content inventories to identify existing 

content and avoiding duplication, making public 

content searchable, being functional and usable 

on mobile devices, providing access through a 

secure connection, and designed around user 

needs with data-driven analysis.

In FY 2022, the Office of Communications will 

continue to support the Agency’s strategic 

plan by disseminating accurate and timely 

information and providing opportunities 

to engage the public in IMLS grantmaking, 

research, partnerships, and policy activities. The 

office organizes the campaign to promote and 

celebrate the winners of the National Medal for 

Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest 

honor for institutions that make significant and 

exceptional contributions to their communities. 

The office also operates the Agency’s website, 

media relations, and Facebook and Twitter feeds; 

as well as essential digital and print publications 

such as the IMLS Blog, the IMLS Monthly 

Newsletter, and the Agency’s annual reports. 
30

ADMINISTRATIVE REQUEST BY OBJECT CLASS CODE

In FY 2022, the IMLS request for administrative costs is $16,500,000. Areas supported by this request are 

summarized below.

TABLE 3: IMLS ADMINISTRATION COSTS: FY 2020–FY 2022

Dollars in thousands

Object Class Description FY 2020 Actual 

($)

FY 2021 Forecast 

($)

FY 2022 Request 

($)

11000/12000/13000 Personnel Compensation and Benefits 9,500 11,500 12,300

21000 Travel and Transportation of Persons 100 25 400

22000 Transportation of Things 15 5 5

23000 Rental of Space (Rent, Communications 

and Utilities), Equipment Rental, 

Telephone Services, Postage

1,400 1,475 1,500

24000 Printing and Reproduction 50 50 50

25000 Other Contractual Services 3,485 2,250 2,100

26000 Supplies and Materials 50 100 70

31000 Equipment 400 95 75

TOTAL $13,745 $15,500 $16,500

11000 Personnel Compensation, 12000 Personnel Benefits, 13000 Benefits for Former 

Personnel

Amount Requested: $12,300,000

These object classes fund the salaries and 

benefits of all employees, including fulltime, part-time, temporary, and intermittent 

appointments (for example, the National 

Museum and Library Services Board [NMLSB]), 

and consultants. To minimize personnel costs, 

the salary for the NMLSB will remain at $100/

day. The personnel benefits provide estimated 

contributions toward employees’ retirement, 

health, and life insurance plans, as well as 

costs for unemployment benefits and injuries 

sustained in the workplace. Additionally, costs 

associated with public transportation subsidies 

afforded to the Agency’s employees are included 

in this category. This funding request will 

provide for 73 FTE in 2022.

21000 Travel and Transportation of Persons

Amount Requested: $400,000

This object class supports travel for IMLS staff to 

conduct site visits to oversee IMLS grants, panel 

reviews for the discretionary grant programs, 

convenings for state data collection and Grants 

to States professional development activities, 

and staff presentations on IMLS programs. Travel 

funds also support the annual National Medals 

for Museum and Library Service as well as two 

NMLSB meetings. 

In FY 2021 IMLS restricted travel to only mission 

critical travel in compliance with federal 

government guidance. In anticipation of travel 

restrictions being reduced in FY 2022, the 

Agency is requesting $400,000 to resume travel 

that approaches normal levels to support the 

Agency’s mission. 
31

22000 Transportation of Things

Amount Requested: $5,000

This object class includes freight and express 

charges by common carrier, contract carriers, 

and other incidental expenses. The Agency 

anticipates the beginning of a return to some inperson convenings such as library and museum 

conventions, conferences, and meetings that 

require shipment of the Institute’s displays 

and certain associated materials. This area also 

includes mail transportation charges for express 

package services (i.e., charges for transporting 

freight). 

23000 Rent, Communications and Utilities, Rental of Space (Standard Level Usage Charge), 

Equipment Rental, Telephone Services, Postage

Amount Requested: $1,500,000

This object class includes funding for the 

Agency’s office space through an occupancy 

agreement with the General Services Agency 

(GSA); communication technology services, 

including data, voice, and cable services; 

equipment rental; rental of audiovisual 

equipment used in presentations at conference 

sessions and off-site meetings; and postage. 

24000 Printing and Reproduction 

Amount Requested: $50,000

This object class funds the composition and 

printing of program applications and guidelines, 

research publications, conference proceedings, 

and Federal Register notices. To help contain 

costs in this category we continue to promote 

and expand the use of our website and other 

various forms of social media. The site provides 

access to program guidelines, grant information, 

recent awards lists, and a variety of information 

about IMLS initiatives, activities, and programs. 

We will continue to expand the electronic 

dissemination of all public materials to reach 

prospective grantees from institutions of all sizes 

and in all geographic areas to keep printing costs 

at a minimum.

25000 Other Contractual Services

Amount Requested: $2,100,000

This object class supports a wide range of 

contractual services that are not covered in any 

of the preceding categories. Included in this 

expense category are costs for

• the support, maintenance, and improvement 

of information technology systems, including 

cyber-security activities;

• partnerships and interagency agreements for 

financial management systems, accounting 

and reporting services, payroll processing, 

grant indirect cost proposals, building security, 

and other required government services;

• information technology support such as the 

IMLS Help Desk, State Program Reporting 

system, and maintenance of the General 

Supporting System for all Agency operations;

• independent financial and IT-related audits;

• Grants Management System Partnership and 

Grants.gov related expenses;

• employee training;

• Agency contracts for temporary personnel 

assistance; and

• honoraria for panelist and field reviewers for 

grant proposals and applications.
32

26000 Supplies and Materials

Amount Requested: $70,000

This object class funds only the essential office 

supplies needed in carrying out the business 

of IMLS. IMLS continues to be a partner in the 

GSA SmartPay3 charge card program. Additional 

supplies and materials will be necessary for 

the anticipated return of staff from maximum 

telework in 2022. 

31000 Equipment 

Amount Requested: $75,000

This object class supports all equipment, 

furniture, and office machines having a useful 

life in excess of one year, such as chairs, desks, 

file cabinets, IT equipment, and printers. It also 

includes routine upgrades to local area network 

hardware and software in order to accommodate 

upgrades in database management and financial 

data. The majority of anticipated equipment 

expenditures will be for technology renewal of 

office automation equipment, systems software, 

and furniture that would be more expensive to 

repair than replace. We intend to maximize the 

usefulness of existing hardware by upgrading 

rather than purchasing new equipment wherever 

possible. Rapid changes in technology, however, 

will make it necessary to purchase some new 

computer equipment, integration systems 

software and hardware, and electronic data 

exchange systems. This will enable us to be 

responsive to and compliant with Administration 

directives and guidance and federal laws, to 

continuously deliver on systems modernization 

to increase the efficiency and effectiveness 

of operations in delivering services while 

maintaining a robust internal control posture.

Total Administrative Services Request: $16,500,000
33

IV. Performance Plan

OVERVIEW

In FY 2021 the Agency remains committed 

to developing performance monitoring and 

reporting and capacity. After successfully 

submitting the FY 2020 Annual Performance 

Report in January 2021, the Agency continues 

to expand a performance management 

framework that includes Agency-wide quarterly 

meetings and a condensed timetable to help the 

Agency align its strategic planning with future 

performance reporting. In FY 2022 IMLS will 

release its FY 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, and the 

Agency will focus its efforts across this year in 

developing new performance goals, indicators, 

and targets to begin baseline reporting with the 

FY 2022 Annual Performance Report. 

EVIDENCE BUILDING

In FY 2021, IMLS continued its efforts to increase 

capacity for creating and utilizing evidence in 

informing grantmaking and other decisions. The 

efforts blend monitoring of performance with 

more systematic evaluations of the Agency’s 

signatory grant programs, mixing the expertise 

and resources of its staff and third parties. Much 

of the Agency’s efforts during FY 2021 focused 

on monitoring its response to the COVID-19 

pandemic, including administering CARES 

Act funds. The landscape in which libraries 

and museums operate has changed during the 

pandemic, and there is still much to be learned 

from CARES-funded initiatives and activities. 

Such conditions have led to a need to revisit 

IMLS performance indicators, baseline data, 

and targets for success accordingly as well 

as to strategically delve into more systematic 

evaluations. 

The Agency revised its strategic goals and 

objectives in FY 2021, and data collection and 

monitoring efforts are shifting to align with 

those revised goals and objectives in FY 2022. 

As part of performance management planning 

efforts, IMLS will work to increase the robustness 

of data collection, analysis, and reporting. 

This will include a careful operationalization 

of the strategic objectives into measurable 

and meaningful performance measures, an 

assessment of the current methods used to 

gather information about IMLS programs, and 

a plan for how IMLS and its grantees will adapt 

their processes to reliably and regularly gather 

data on performance measures, set meaningful 

targets, and report on the Agency’s progress.

The Agency’s performance management plan 

will also lay out how IMLS’s efforts to improve 

performance management will fit within a 

larger federal government mandate to increase 

evidence-building capacity and move beyond 

accountability towards improving programs 

and their performance. This means outlining 

an iterative process used for continuous 

improvement that includes several different 

steps: 1) setting priorities and objectives, 2) 

collecting data, 3) disseminating it, and 4) using 

it for decision making. Each of these steps will 

need to be aligned with key annual fiscal year 

milestones for IMLS, to maximize the usability 

and relevance of performance data to the 

Agency.
34

V. Authorizing Framework

This justification requests funding under the 

Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), the 

National Museum for African American History 

and Culture Act, and the National Museum of the 

American Latino Act. 

The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 

(P.L. 115-410) authorizes IMLS’s programs 

through FY 2025. The National Museum for 

African American History and Culture Act and 

the National Museum of American Latino Act 

have permanent authorizations.

This section provides highlights of the Agency’s 

authorizing legislation.

LIBRARY SERVICES

All of IMLS’s library programs support the 

following goals set out in 20 U.S.C. § 9121:

• enhance coordination among Federal 

programs that relate to library, education, and 

information services; 

• promote continuous improvement in library 

services in all types of libraries in order to 

better serve the people of the United States; 

• facilitate access to resources in all types of 

libraries for the purpose of cultivating an 

educated and informed citizenry; 

• encourage resource sharing among all types 

of libraries for the purpose of achieving 

economical and efficient delivery of library 

services to the public; 

• promote literacy, education, and lifelong 

learning, including by building learning 

partnerships with school libraries in our 

Nation’s schools, including Tribal schools, 

and developing resources, capabilities, and 

programs in support of State, Tribal, and local 

efforts to offer a well-rounded educational 

experience to all students; 

• enable libraries to develop services that meet 

the needs of communities throughout the 

Nation, including people of diverse geographic, 

cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, 

individuals with disabilities, residents of rural 

and urban areas, Native Americans, military 

families, veterans, and caregivers; 

• enable libraries to serve as anchor institutions 

to support community revitalization through 

enhancing and expanding the services and 

resources provided by libraries, including those 

services and resources relating to workforce 

development, economic and business 

development, critical thinking skills, health 

information, digital literacy skills, financial 

literacy and other types of literacy skills, and 

new and emerging technology; 

• enhance the skills of the current library 

workforce and recruit future professionals, 

including those from diverse and 

underrepresented backgrounds, to the field of 

library and information services; 

• ensure the preservation of knowledge and 

library collections in all formats and enable 

libraries to serve their communities during 

disasters; 
35

• enhance the role of libraries within the 

information infrastructure of the United States 

in order to support research, education, and 

innovation; 

• promote library services that provide users with 

access to information through national, State, 

local, regional, and international collaborations 

and networks; and 

• encourage, support, and disseminate model 

programs of library and museum collaboration. 

LIBRARY GRANTS TO STATES

The 59 State Library Administrative Agencies 

may use IMLS Grants to States Program support 

for the following activities, as set out in 20 U.S.C. 

§ 9141:

• expanding services for learning and access 

to information and educational resources 

in a variety of formats, including new and 

emerging technology, in all types of libraries, 

for individuals of all ages, in order to support 

such individuals’ needs for education, lifelong 

learning, workforce development, economic 

and business development, health information, 

critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and 

financial literacy and other types of literacy 

skills;

• establishing or enhancing electronic and other 

linkages and improved coordination among 

and between libraries and State agencies 

and offices for the purpose of improving the 

quality of and access to library and information 

services;

• providing training and professional 

development, including continuing education, 

to enhance the skills of the current library 

workforce and leadership, and advance the 

delivery of library and information services; 

• enhancing efforts to recruit future 

professionals, including those from diverse and 

underrepresented backgrounds, to the field of 

library and information services; 

• developing public and private partnerships 

with other agencies, Tribes, and communitybased organizations; 

• targeting library services to individuals 

of diverse geographic, cultural, and 

socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals 

with disabilities, and to individuals with limited 

functional literacy or information skills; 

• targeting library and information services to 

persons having difficulty using a library and 

to underserved urban and rural communities, 

including children from families with incomes 

below the poverty line; 

• developing library services that provide all 

users access to information through local, 

State, regional, national, and international 

collaborations and networks; and 

• carrying out other activities as described in the 

State library administrative Agency’s plan. 

LIBRARY DISCRETIONARY GRANTS

IMLS’s Library Services Discretionary Grants 

Programs are established in 20 U.S.C. §§ 9161, 

9162, and 9165, and include: National Leadership 

Grants, Native American Library Services 

Basic Grants, Native American Library Services 

Enhancement Grants, Native Hawaiian Library 

Services, and the Laura Bush 21st Century 

Librarian Program.

National Leadership Grants support projects that 

address challenged faced by museums, libraries, 

and/or archives and that have the potential to 

advance the practices of those institutions. By 

statute, the funded activities may include:

• building workforce and institutional capacity 

for managing the national information 

infrastructure and serving the information and 

education needs of the public;

• research and demonstration projects related 

to the improvement of libraries or the 

enhancement of library and information 

services through effective and efficient use of 

new and emerging technologies, including 
36

projects that enable library users to acquire 

digital literacy skills and that make information 

services more accessible and available; and 

dissemination of information derived from 

such projects;

• conserving, preserving, and digitizing library 

materials and resources, giving priority to 

projects emphasizing coordination, optimizing 

conditions for storage and future use, offering 

staff training, avoiding duplication, and 

providing access by researchers beyond the 

institution or library entity undertaking the 

project;

• enhancing the ability of libraries to provide 

services to affected communities in the event 

of an emergency or disaster through the 

developing of nation, regional, statewide, or 

local emergency and disaster management 

plans that (1) address communication and 

coordination of information and services 

for affected communities, and (2) ensure 

the preservation of knowledge and library 

collections; and the implementation of 

emergency and disaster management places or 

otherwise enabling libraries to provide services 

to affected communities in the event of an 

emergency or disaster; and model programs 

demonstrating cooperative efforts between 

libraries and museums.

Native American Library Services Basic Grant 

funds are distributed in equal amounts among 

eligible applicants. Basic Grants may support 

existing library operations and maintain core 

library services. The Native American Library 

Services Enhancement Grant program and the 

Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant program 

are competitive; projects may enhance existing 

library services or implement new library 

services.

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program 

is designed to develop a diverse workforce of 

librarians by:

• recruiting and educating the next generation of 

librarians from diverse and underrepresented 

backgrounds, including by encouraging at the 

middle school, high school, and postsecondary 

levels students to pursue careers in library and 

information science;

• developing faculty and library leaders from 

diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, 

including by increasing the institutional 

capacity of graduate schools of library and 

information science; and

• enhancing the training and professional 

development of librarians and the library 

workforce to enable them to meet the needs 

of their communities, including those needs 

relating to education, lifelong learning, 

workforce development, economic and 

business development, health information, 

critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, 

financial and other types of literacy skills, and 

new and emerging technology. 
37

MUSEUM SERVICES

All of IMLS’s museum programs under the 

Museum and Library Services Act support the 

following goals set out in 20 U.S.C. § 9171:

• encourage and support museums in carrying 

out their educational role, as core providers 

of learning and in conjunction with schools, 

families, and communities; 

• encourage and support museums in carrying 

out their public service role of connecting 

the whole of society to the cultural, 

artistic, historical, natural, and scientific 

understandings that constitute our diverse 

heritage; 

• encourage leadership, innovation, and 

applications of the most current technologies 

and practices to enhance museum services 

through international, national, regional, State, 

and local networks and partnerships; 

• assist, encourage, and support museums in 

carrying out their stewardship responsibilities 

to achieve the highest standards in 

conservation and care of the diverse cultural, 

historic, natural, and scientific heritage of the 

United States to benefit future generations; 

• assist, encourage, and support museums 

in achieving the highest standards of 

management and service to the public, and to 

ease the financial burden borne by museums 

as they serve their communities in new and 

different ways; 

• support resource sharing and partnerships 

among museums, libraries, schools, and other 

community organizations; 

• encourage and support museums as a part of 

economic development and revitalization in 

communities; 

• ensure museums of various types and sizes in 

diverse geographic regions of the United States 

are afforded attention and support;

• support efforts at the State and regional levels 

to leverage museum resources and maximize 

museum services; and 

• assist museums in their civic engagement 

efforts to ensure that every person in the 

United States has access to high-quality 

museum services. 

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN 

AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ACT

This Act authorizes the Director of IMLS to 

establish the following programs, in consultation 

with the Council and Director of the National 

Museum of African American History and 

Culture:

• a grant program with the purpose of 

improving operations, care of collections, and 

development of professional management at 

African American museums;

• a grant program with the purpose of providing 

internship and fellowship opportunities at 

African American museums;

• a scholarship program with the purpose of 

assisting individuals who are pursuing careers 

or carrying out studies in the arts, humanities, 

and sciences in the study of African American 

life, art, history, and culture.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE 

AMERICAN LATINO ACT

This Act authorizes the Director of IMLS to 

establish the following programs, in consultation 

with the Board of Trustees and Director of the 

National Museum of the American Latino:

• a grant program with the purpose of improving 

operations, care of collections, culturally 

appropriate public outreach, and development 

of professional management at American 

Latino museums;
38

• a grant program with the purpose of providing 

internship and fellowship opportunities at 

American Latino museums;

• a scholarship program—in partnership with 

Hispanic-serving institutions, minorityserving institutions, historically black colleges 

and universities, and other institutions of 

higher education, with the purpose of assisting 

individuals who are pursuing careers or 

carrying out studies in the arts, humanities, 

and sciences in the study of American Latino 

life, art, history, and culture;

• a grant program in cooperation with other 

museums, historical societies, and educational 

institutions, with the purpose of promoting the 

understanding of the Latin American diaspora 

in the United States; and;

• a grant program under which an American 

Latino museum (including a nonprofit 

education organization the primary mission 

of which is to promote the study of the Latin 

American diaspora in the United States) 

may use funds provided under the grant to 

increase an endowment fund established by 

the museum (or organization) as of October 

1, 2020, for the purposes of enhancing 

educational programming, and maintaining 

and operating traveling educational exhibits.

POLICY RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, DATA COLLECTION, 

AND DISSEMINATION

IMLS is authorized to support and conduct policy 

research, data collection, analysis and modeling, 

evaluation, and dissemination of information 

to extend and improve the Nation’s museum, 

library, and information services (20 U.S.C. § 

9108). The Act identifies the following objectives: 

• To enhance and expand the capacity of 

museums, libraries, and information services 

to anticipate, respond to, and meet the 

evolving needs of communities and the 

public, including by identifying trends and 

developments that may impact the need for 

and delivery of services. 

• To provide information and data on the 

role, value, and impact of museum, library, 

and information resources, including the 

identification of trends and the potential gaps 

in the availability and use of museum and 

library services by their communities and the 

public. 

• To measure the effectiveness of museums, 

libraries, and information services throughout 

the United States, including the impact of 

Federal programs authorized under the Act.

• To identify indicators and outcomes that 

can be used to create enhancements to the 

efficiency and efficacy of museum, library, and 

information services. 

• To promote advancement and growth in 

museum, library, and information services 

through sharing of best practices and effective 

strategies in order to better serve the people of 

the United States. 

• To facilitate planning for, and building of, 

institutional capacity in order to improve 

museum, library, and information services at 

the national, State, local, and regional levels; 

and international communications and 

cooperative networks. 
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• To support and enhance collaborative 

professional networks and consortia that 

use shared, meaningful, and actionable data 

analysis and modeling to advance museum, 

library, and information services and address 

community needs. 

In carrying out these objectives, IMLS engages 

with researchers from multiple sectors, the 

State Library Administrative Agencies, networks 

of museums and libraries, as well as national, 

state, Tribal, and regional museum and library 

organizations. 

INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION

The Museum and Library Services Act authorizes 

the IMLS Director to support interagency 

collaboration:

The Director shall work jointly with the 

individuals heading relevant Federal departments 

and agencies, including the Secretary of Labor, 

the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of 

the Small Business Administration, the Chairman 

of the Federal Communications Commission, 

the Director of the National Science Foundation, 

the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 

the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the 

Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary 

of the Interior, the Secretary of Housing and 

Urban Development, the Chairman of the 

National Endowment for the Arts, the Chairman 

of the National Endowment of the Humanities, 

the Director of the Office of Management 

and Budget, the Secretary of Commerce, the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of 

Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 

Secretary Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer 

of AmeriCorps, the Librarian of Congress, the 

Archivist of the United States, and the Director of 

the U.S. Government Publishing on:

• initiatives, materials, or technology or research 

to support education, workforce development, 

economic and business development, and 

related activities and services undertaken by 

libraries;

• resource and policy approaches to eliminate 

barriers to fully leveraging the roles of libraries 

and museums in supporting the early learning, 

literacy, lifelong learning, digital literacy, 

workforce development, and education needs 

of the people of the United States; and 

• initiatives, materials, technology, or research 

to support educational, cultural, historical, 

scientific, environmental, and other activities 

undertaken by museums.

IMLS has a wide range of interagency 

partnerships with purposes including advancing 

broadband adoption, coordinating early learning 

activities, and supporting the effective delivery of 

workforce development services.