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Museum & Library Services Act Signed into Law
By admin | January 2, 2019
On Monday, December 31, 2018, the President signed S. 3530 into law. S. 3530, or the “Museum and Library Services Act of 2018,” reauthorizes, amends, and expands the programs of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). A key provision of the bill expands funding for the Grants to States program, which provides state library agencies with federal funds for library services in their states. Under the bill, the minimum base allotment to states will increase from $680,000 to one million dollars; there is also an additional amount awarded based on state population.
The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services currently receives slightly over $1 million annually through the Grants to States program and uses these funds for programs such as the Summer Reading Program, statewide professional development for librarians and library staff, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (Talking Books Library). The reauthorized and amended bill would increase RI’s allotment by approximately $320,000 when the bill is fully funded, though the funding increase would be phased in gradually over a number of years so that larger states will not experience a sharp reduction of funding.
The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 was sponsored by RI Senator Jack Reed and co-sponsored by RI Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, along with a number of other senators. The bipartisan legislation passed the Senate unanimously on December 4, and passed the House on December 19 with a vote of 331-28. RI Congressmen David Cicilline and Jim Langevin were also strong supporters of the bill. The American Library Association (ALA) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) were key factors in pressing the bill to its eventual passage, along with the tireless support of Senator Reed and his team. While there is still work to be done to ensure adequate and continued funding for IMLS and its programs, the passage of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 was a milestone achievement.
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