20 U.S.C. § 9173
Section 9173 · Museum services activities
Current version, with additions and removals from the September 30, 1996 version.
The Director, subject to the policy direction of the Museum Board, may make grants to museums to pay for the Federal share of the cost of increasing and improving museum services, through such activities as—
(1) programs that enable museums to construct or install displays, interpretations, and exhibitions in order to improve museum services provided to the public;
(2) assisting museums in developing and maintaining professionally trained or otherwise experienced staff to meet the needs of the museums;
(3) assisting museums in meeting the administrative costs of preserving and maintaining the collections of the museums, exhibiting the collections to the public, and providing educational programs to the public through the use of the collections;
(4) assisting museums in cooperating with each other in developing traveling exhibitions, meeting transportation costs, and identifying and locating collections available for loan;
(5) assisting museums in the conservation of their collections;
(6) developing and carrying out specialized programs for specific segments of the public, such as programs for urban neighborhoods, rural areas, Indian reservations, and penal and other State institutions; and
(7) model programs demonstrating cooperative efforts between libraries and museums.
(1) Projects to strengthen museum services
The Director, subject to the policy direction of the Museum Board, is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with appropriate entities, as determined by the Director, to pay for the Federal share of enabling the entities to undertake projects designed to strengthen museum services, except that any contracts or cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be effective only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts.
(2) Limitation on amount
The aggregate amount of financial assistance made available under this subsection for a fiscal year shall not exceed 15 percent of the amount appropriated under this subchapter for such fiscal year.
(3) Operational expenses
No financial assistance may be provided under this subsection to pay for operational expenses.
The Director, subject to the policy advice of the Museum and Library Services Board, may enter into arrangements, including grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance, with museums, States, local governments, and other entities as the Director considers appropriate, to pay the Federal share of the cost of—
(1) supporting museums in providing learning and access to collections, information, and educational resources in a variety of formats (including exhibitions, programs, publications, and websites) for individuals of all ages;
(2) supporting museums in building learning partnerships with the Nation's schools, including tribal schools, and developing museum resources, capabilities, and programs in support of State and local efforts to offer a well-rounded educational experience to all students;
(3) supporting the conservation and preservation of museum collections, including efforts to—
(A) provide optimal conditions for storage, exhibition, and use;
(B) prepare for and respond to disasters and emergency situations;
(C) establish endowments for conservation;
(D) curate, stabilize, and organize object-related information; and
(E) train museum staff in collections care;
(4) supporting efforts at the State level to leverage museum resources, including statewide assessments of museum services and needs and development of State plans to improve and maximize museum services through the State;
(5) creating shared technology tools and data resources, and developing museum staff training plans to improve and maximize museum services through organizations such as museum associations, professional networks, community-based organizations, and foundations, and through other collaborative mechanisms;
(6) stimulating greater collaboration, in order to share resources and strengthen communities, among museums and—
(A) libraries;
(B) schools;
(C) institutions of higher education;
(D) international, Federal, State, regional, tribal, and local agencies or organizations;
(E) nongovernmental organizations;
(F) other community organizations; and
(G) other relevant research and policy organizations;
(7) encouraging the use of new and emerging technologies and media, including new ways to disseminate information, engage varied audiences in experiential learning, and support teachers and students to enhance access to and engagement with museum collections, programs, and services;
(8) supporting museums in developing, carrying out, and providing programs and 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, and for State institutions;
(9) supporting professional development and technical assistance programs to enhance museum operations, and the skills of museum staff, at all levels, and to support the development of the next generation of museum leaders and professionals, in order to ensure the highest standards in all aspects of museum operations;
(10) supporting museums in research, program evaluation, and the collection and dissemination of information to museum professionals and the public;
(11) encouraging, supporting, and disseminating model programs of museum and library collaboration;
(12) enabling museums to serve as anchor institutions to support community revitalization and the creation of opportunities for advancement; and
(13) developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations to expand and enhance museum services.
(1) 50 percent
(1) 50 percent
(2) Greater than 50 percent
(2) Greater than 50 percent
(3) Operational expenses
No funds for operational expenses may be provided under this section to any entity that is not a museum.
(1) In general
(2) Grant distribution
In awarding grants, the Director shall take into consideration the equitable distribution of grants to museums of various types and sizes and to different geographic areas of the United States.
(3) Applications for technical assistance
(A) In general
The Director may use not more than 10 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this subchapter for technical assistance.
(B) Individual museums
Individual museums may receive not more than 3 technical assistance awards under subparagraph (A). Subsequent awards for technical assistance shall be subject to review outside the Institute.
From amounts appropriated under section 9176 of this title, the Director shall reserve 2.25 percent to award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 7517 of this title), to enable such tribes and organizations to carry out the activities described in subsection (a).