Its reauthorization may be considered by the 111 th Congress. A wide variety of libraries—public, public school, college or university, research (if they provide public access to their collections), and (at state discretion) private libraries—may receive aid under the Library Services and Technology Act, not just the public and research libraries eligible for aid under the predecessor legislation, the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA). 108-81 ). P.L. 108-81 authorized $232 million for LST in FY2004, and such sums as may be necessary for FY2005-FY2009. The bulk of LST funding is distributed to states via formula grants. Funding is also provided for Native Americans and for national leadership projects. 108-81 provided for an increase in initial state grants for library services and technology to $680,000 (from $340,000) in years in which the amount appropriated for the year, and available for state grants, exceeds the amount of grants to all states in FY2003. FY2009 was the first year in which appropriations for the IMLS were sufficient to trigger the higher state grant amounts authorized by P.L. Participating states are required to develop five-year plans that set goals and priorities consistent with the purposes of LST (i.e., to enhance information-sharing networks and target library services to disadvantaged populations). The plans must provide for independent evaluations of federally assisted library services. LST is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). P.L. The Museum Services program is administered by OMS within IMLS. Currently, OMS administers five competitive grant programs (Museums for America, Museum Professionals for the 21 st Century, Conservation Project Support, Native American and Native Hawaiian Museum Services, and National Leadership Grants for Museums) and two cooperative agreements (Museum Assessment Program and Conservation Assessment Program). The OMS also administers a related program, the African American Museum Services program, authorized separately through the African American History and Culture Act ( P.L. 108-184 ). Summary of the 2003 Reauthorization

On September 25, 2003, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 was signed into law ( P.L. 108-81 ). increasing initial state grants for outlying areas to $60,000 if appropriations in a given year are sufficient to meet the higher initial state grants of $680,000; if remaining funds are insufficient to reach $60,000, they are to be distributed equally among outlying areas receiving such funds; authorizing $232 million for Library Services and $38.6 million for Museum Services for FY2004, and such sums as may be necessary for FY2005-FY2009; authorizing the director to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements to help pay the federal share (50% share, with an exception that, by arrangement, 20% of the funds may be used to pay above a 50% share for museum services) for a broader range of museum activities, including learning partnerships and collaborations among museum, libraries, schools, and other community organizations; new technologies to enhance access to museums; and specialized programs for underserved areas; locating advisory functions (which for libraries were previously delegated to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences) within a new National Museum and Library Services Board (previously, solely a Museum Services Board) in the IMLS; requiring the director to carry out and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services, and increasing from 3% to 3.5% the amount available for federal administrative costs, to provide funding for this new function; prohibiting the use of IMLS funds for construction; and permitting the director of the IMLS to make national awards for library service, in addition to the already authorized national awards for museum service.
The authorization of the Museum and Library Services Act expired with FY2009. Its reauthorization may be considered by the 111th Congress. It was last reauthorized by P.L. 108-81, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (MLSA), signed into law on September 25, 2003. MLSA authorizes funding for Library Services and Technology (LST) and for Museum Services. MLSA is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). P.L. 108-81 authorized $232 million for LST in FY2004, and such sums as may be necessary for FY2005-FY2009. It authorized $38.6 million for Museum Services in FY2004, and such sums as may be necessary for FY2005-FY2009.
The bulk of LST funding is distributed to states via formula grants. Funding is also provided for library services for Native Americans and for national activities. Participating states are required to develop five-year plans that set goals and priorities consistent with LST purposes (i.e., to enhance information-sharing networks and target library services to disadvantaged populations). The plans must provide for independent evaluations of federally assisted library services. A wide variety of types of libraries—public, public school, college or university, research (if they provide public access to their collections), and (at state discretion) private libraries—may receive LST aid.
P.L. 108-81 provided for an increase in initial state grants for LST from $340,000 to $680,000 if the amount appropriated for a year, and available for state grants, exceeds the amount of grants to all states in FY2003. In addition, initial grants for outlying areas were increased to $60,000 if appropriations in a given year are sufficient to meet the higher initial state grant of $680,000. FY2009 was the first year appropriations were sufficient to trigger the higher initial state grant amounts authorized by P.L. 108-81.
Funding for Museum Services is administered by IMLS, Office of Museum Services (OMS), through competitive grant programs and cooperative agreements. Funding is used by museums to pay the federal share of the cost of museum services (i.e., not more than 50%). Under Museum Services, the OMS currently administers five grant programs (Museums for America, Museum Professionals for the 21st Century, Conservation Project Support, Native American and Native Hawaiian Museum Services, and National Leadership Grants for Museums) and two cooperative agreements (Museum Assessment Program and Conservation Assessment Program). The OMS also administers a related program, the African American Museum Services program, authorized separately through the African American History and Culture Act (P.L. 108-184).
This report will be updated in response to legislative developments.