84-373; 69 Stat. Pursuant to the law, the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Administrator could, among other actions,
accept … the papers and other historical materials of any President or former President of the United States, or of any other official or former official of the Government, and other papers relating to and contemporary with any President or former President of the United States. (P.L. Congress then has 60 days of continuous session to disapprove of the acquisition or agreement. Through NARA, the federal government currently operates and maintains 13 presidential libraries—including the facility for the records of former President George W. Bush, which opened in April 2013. The libraries, which primarily serve as archival depositories for presidential records and memorabilia, are privately constructed on behalf of former Presidents. Upon completion, the land, buildings, and sometimes other library amenities are deeded to or otherwise placed under the control of the federal government. Among some concerns associated with the construction and maintenance of presidential libraries is the role of the private organizations that build and, sometimes, continue to inhabit the library buildings. The private organizations, commonly referred to as presidential library foundations, support the construction of the libraries and sometimes the exhibitions displayed within the library or its museum. This close association with the library may create an amicable public-private partnership at library facilities. Such a relationship, however, may also render unclear which portions of the library and its exhibitions are funded by government appropriations and which portions are not. This report details the legislative history of the Presidential Libraries Act. It then provides information on existing library facilities and their locations. It then analyzes legislative options for the act, including changing endowment requirements; creating a single, centralized presidential library; or more clearly identifying the role of the libraries' supporting foundations. NARA is currently examining proposals for the construction of a future Barack Obama presidential library. Legislative History of the Presidential Libraries Act

The Presidential Libraries Act (P.L. 695), as originally enacted in 1955, sought to create a system of government "preservation and administration … of papers and other historical materials of any President or former President of the United States." Amid concerns about growing costs of the libraries, the act was substantially amended in 1986 ( P.L. 99-323 ; 100 Stat. 84-373). Pursuant to the new statute, the GSA Administrator could
accept the papers and other historical materials of any President or former President of the United States, or of any other official or former official of the government, and other papers relating to and contemporary with any President or former President of the United States; accept and take title to, for and in the name of the United States, after a detailed report to Congress in each instance, land, buildings, and equipment offered as a gift to the United States to be utilized as a presidential archival depository; enter into agreements, after a detailed report to Congress in each instance, with any state, political subdivision, university, institution of higher learning, institute, or foundation, to utilize as a presidential archival depository land, building, and equipment of any such state, subdivision, institution, or organization to be made available by it without transfer of title to the United States; maintain, operate, and protect such presidential archival depositories as part of the national archives system; and accept gifts or bequests of money or other property for the purpose of maintaining, operating, protecting, or improving any presidential archival depository. 99-125), the committee wrote that the bill would "shift the burden of on-going building operations costs of future libraries from the taxpayer to endowment funds required to be provided by the same private parties who build and donate the library buildings." The relationship between the foundation and the library is different at each facility.
The Presidential Libraries Act (P.L. 84-373; 69 Stat. 695), as originally enacted in 1955, sought to create a system of government "preservation and administration … of papers and other historical materials of any President or former President of the United States." Pursuant to the law, the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Administrator could, among other actions,
accept … the papers and other historical materials of any President or former President of the United States, or of any other official or former official of the Government, and other papers relating to and contemporary with any President or former President of the United States. (P.L. 84-373)
Amid concerns about growing costs of the libraries, the act was substantially amended in 1986 (P.L. 99-323; 100 Stat. 495) to "shift the burden of on-going building operations costs of future libraries from the taxpayer to endowment funds."
Through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the federal government currently operates and maintains 13 presidential libraries, and is currently engaging with representatives seeking to construct a presidential library for President Barack Obama. The libraries, which primarily serve as archival repositories and museums in which the records and memorabilia of the former Presidents are held and made available to researchers and the public, are privately constructed on behalf of former Presidents. Before construction on a presidential archival facility can begin, the Archivist must approve a plan, and Congress must be provided 60 days of continuous session during which it can disapprove of the plan. If Congress chooses not to act, the land, buildings, and sometimes other amenities for the library may be deeded to or otherwise placed under the control of the federal government.
Among some concerns associated with the construction and maintenance of presidential libraries is the role of the private organizations that build and, sometimes, continue to inhabit the buildings. The private organizations, commonly referred to as presidential library foundations, support the construction of the libraries and sometimes provide funding for the exhibitions displayed within the library or its museum. Each library and foundation has a unique partnership. Such a relationship, however, may also lead to difficulties in determining which exhibits are displayed, ensuring a balanced portrayal of the President's legacy, and differentiating between public and private space at the facilities.
This report details the legislative history of the Presidential Libraries Act. The report then examines information on existing library facilities and their locations, organizational characteristics, and outreach efforts. It also analyzes legislative options for the act, including increasing endowment requirements for the library foundations and clearly delineating the relationship between NARA and the libraries' supporting organizations. Congress, for example, might consider consolidating the libraries into one centralized location or could attempt to create standards for the historical exhibits at the libraries.
The Barack Obama Foundation, the private organization that will be managing and partially financing the official library of President Obama, is currently reviewing proposals for a library facility. This library is expected to become the 14th library facility under NARA management. Three cities—Chicago, Honolulu, and New York City—have submitted proposals, and a decision on where to locate the library is expected in March 2015. Congress has the authority to deny any presidential library proposal.