I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5967 
To amend the Museum and Library Services Act to authorize grants to 
support the use of public libraries for community economic development. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2020 
Mr. LUJA´N (for himself and Mr. TAKANO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Museum and Library Services Act to authorize 
grants to support the use of public libraries for commu-
nity economic development. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Library Innova-
tion Space Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Subsection (a) of section 214 of the Museum and Li-
brary Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9123(a)) is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) to carry out chapter 5, $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 3. PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE GRANTS. 
Subtitle B of title II of the Museum and Library 
Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 5—PUBLIC LIBRARY 
MAKERSPACE GRANT PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 265. PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts 
provided under section 214(a)(3), the Director shall carry 
out a program under which the Director makes grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to establish 
makerspaces at public libraries. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—To be considered for a grant 
under this section, an eligible partnership shall submit an 
application to the Director at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information and assurances as the 
Director may require. 
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‘‘(c) SELECTION OF GRANTEES.—In selecting eligible 
partnerships to receive grants under this section, the Di-
rector shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the viability of the partnership making the 
application; 
‘‘(2) the ability of the partnership to meet the 
matching requirement described in subsection (d); 
‘‘(3) the potential of the project to provide so-
cial and economic benefits to the local community; 
‘‘(4) the support of local communities, govern-
ment, and partners for the project; 
‘‘(5) the project’s potential for strengthening 
the involvement of diverse and underserved commu-
nities in entrepreneurship and economic develop-
ment; and 
‘‘(6) the ability of the project to continue after 
the end of the grant period. 
‘‘(d) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible partnership 
shall contribute, for the activities for which the 
grant was awarded under this section, non-Federal 
matching funds in an amount determined appro-
priate by the Director. 
‘‘(2) WAIVER.—The Director may waive the re-
quirement of paragraph (1) for any eligible partner-
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ship that the Director determines does not have ade-
quate resources to meet such requirement. 
‘‘(e) REPORTS.—Not less frequently than once annu-
ally, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes— 
‘‘(1) a description of the activities carried out 
with grants under this section; and 
‘‘(2) an assessment of the effect of the grant 
program on community economic development. 
‘‘(f) TREATMENT OF MAKERSPACES.—The use of a 
makerspace supported by a grant under this section shall 
not be treated as a private business use under section 
141(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(g) PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.— 
An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this 
section may not use grant funds, or matching funds con-
tributed by the partnership under subsection (d), for con-
struction activities at a public library that would provide 
extra square footage to house a makerspace. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘eligi-
ble partnership’ means a partnership that includes a 
public library and— 
‘‘(A) an economic development corporation; 
‘‘(B) a local government; 
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‘‘(C) a tribal government; 
‘‘(D) a State government; 
‘‘(E) an elementary school or secondary 
school (as such terms are defined in section 
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); 
‘‘(F) a museum; 
‘‘(G) an institution of higher education (as 
such term is defined in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)); 
‘‘(H) a nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(I) a corporation; 
‘‘(J) other entities identified by the Direc-
tor; or 
‘‘(K) a combination of entities described in 
any of subparagraphs (A) through (I). 
‘‘(2) MAKERSPACE.—The term ‘makerspace’ 
means a facility (which may be a facility at a fixed 
location or a mobile unit) that is open to the public 
and provides individuals with access to— 
‘‘(A) tools, technology, and educational re-
sources that are designed to enable such indi-
viduals to create physical goods, including pro-
totypes; and 
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‘‘(B) educational opportunities, including 
vocational training and assistance with early- 
stage business ventures.’’. 
Æ 
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