Institute of Museum and Library Services facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Institute of Museum and Library Services

Agency overview
Formed	1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Headquarters	955 L'Enfant Plaza Washington, D.C.
Employees	70
Annual budget	$313.58 million for 2023
Agency executive	Keith Sonderling, Acting Director
Website	www.imls.gov

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a special agency of the United States federal government. It was started in 1996. IMLS is the main source of money from the government for libraries and museums across the United States.

Its main goal is to "advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations." It does this by giving out grants, doing research, and helping to create policies. IMLS has also given a lot of money for programs that let libraries borrow books from each other.

In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an order to try and close down IMLS. However, in May 2025, a lawsuit by the American Library Association and other groups stopped this from happening. A court ordered that IMLS could not be shut down.

What IMLS Does for Libraries and Museums

IMLS was created by a law called the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) on September 30, 1996. This law brought together different government programs that helped museums and libraries. Before IMLS, these programs were in separate places.

Lawmakers believed that combining these efforts would help libraries and museums work better together. The MLSA allows IMLS to:

• Make library services better.
• Help people get access to resources in libraries.
• Encourage libraries to share their resources.
• Support museums in teaching and serving the public.
• Help museums protect America's history and art.
• Encourage new ideas in museum services.
• Help museums have high standards for management.
• Support sharing resources among museums and libraries.

IMLS also studies how museum and library services affect communities.

Helping Communities Across America

IMLS works to make sure all Americans can use museums, libraries, and information services. It supports new ideas and proven methods. IMLS funds projects that help people learn throughout their lives. These projects also help people get involved in their communities.

The agency supports many types of museums. These include art, history, and children’s museums. It also helps zoos, science centers, and botanical gardens. IMLS invests in all kinds of libraries too. This includes public, school, and university libraries.

IMLS is the biggest source of federal money for libraries. It sends money to all 50 states and U.S. territories. In 2022, IMLS gave out $257.2 million to institutions. A large part of this, $168.8 million, went through its Grants to States program.

National Medal for Museum and Library Service

IMLS gives out the National Medal for Museum and Library Service every year. This is the highest honor for institutions that do great things for their communities. Since 1994, IMLS has given this award to many outstanding libraries and museums.

In 2023, eight winners were announced. These included libraries like the LA County Library and museums like COSI: Center of Science and Industry. The First Lady of the United States usually presents this award. In July 2023, First Lady Jill Biden hosted the ceremony.

IMLS Budget and Staff

In 2023, IMLS had a budget of $313.58 million. It has 70 full-time employees. Many of them work from home. In 2022, the employees voted to form a union. This means they joined other federal workers to have a stronger voice at work.

The law that created IMLS is reviewed every five years. It was last updated on December 31, 2018.

Efforts to Close IMLS in 2025

On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order. This order aimed to close IMLS and several other agencies. By March 31, 2025, all 70 staff members were put on leave.

The American Library Association (ALA) said that closing IMLS would hurt libraries and museums. They especially worried about small towns. The ALA asked people to support libraries. The American Alliance of Museums also said that Trump's action put jobs and education at risk.

However, on May 1, 2025, a lawsuit was filed. The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees brought the case. A U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., then stopped the government from closing IMLS. This means IMLS continues its work.

Who Leads IMLS

When IMLS was created in 1996, it took over library duties from the Department of Education. The law said that the agency would have a director who changes every few years. Each new director is chosen by the President and approved by the Senate. They serve for four years.

Past Directors

Here are some of the people who have led IMLS:

• Diane Frankel (1996)
• Robert S. Martin (2001)
• Anne-Imelda Radice (2006)
• Susan H. Hildreth (2011)
• Kathryn K. Matthew (2015)
• Crosby Kemper III (2020)
• Cyndee Landrum (Acting Director) (2024)
• Keith E. Sonderling (Acting Director) (2025)

National Museum and Library Services Board

IMLS also has a special group called the National Museum and Library Services Board. This board has 24 members. They include the IMLS director and other leaders from the agency. It also has 20 people chosen by the President. This board gives advice on how IMLS should work. They also help choose the winners for the National Medals for Museum and Library Service.

Current Board Members

As of September 29, 2024, here are some of the board members:

IMLS Goals and Plans

The IMLS Strategic Plan for 2022-2026 has four main goals:

• Help people learn throughout their lives.
• Make communities more involved.
• Improve how collections are cared for.
• Show excellent public service.

Grants and Funding Programs

IMLS offers many grants to museums, libraries, and other cultural places. These grants help IMLS reach its goals. They support new ideas, lifelong learning, and community involvement.

Experts from across the country review the grant applications. This helps IMLS fund important services in different areas.

Office of Library Services

The Office of Library Services (OLS) helps train library staff and volunteers. This builds a skilled workforce. OLS also improves library resources that teach different types of literacy. This includes digital, health, and financial literacy. It also encourages libraries and museums to share good ideas.

Grants to States Program

This is the largest source of federal money for library services. IMLS sends money to state library agencies. These agencies then help libraries in their states. This program helps libraries in all states and territories. It supports things like internet access and digital learning. It also helps with job training and community projects.

About 1,500 projects each year get money from this program. State agencies can give these funds to public, academic, or school libraries.

Other Library Grants

The Office of Library Services has other ways to give money. These include:

• National Leadership Grants for Libraries.
• Native American Library Services: Basic Grants.
• Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants.
• Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants.
• The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

Office of Museum Services

The Office of Museum Services (OMS) helps train museum staff and volunteers. This builds a skilled workforce for museums. OMS also improves museum resources that teach different types of literacy.

Museums come in many sizes and types. This includes zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens. It also includes history museums, art museums, and children’s museums.

Museum Grants

The Office of Museum Services offers several grants. These include:

• Museums for America.
• Inspire! Grants for Small Museums.
• Museums Empowered.
• 21st Century Museum Professional.
• National Leadership Grants for Museums.
• Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services.
• Museum Grants for African American History and Culture.
• Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture.

American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship

This program helps students get internships at American Latino museums. It supports students studying American Latino life, art, and history.

Collections Assessment For Preservation (CAP)

The CAP program helps small and medium-sized museums. It gives them money to check how they care for their collections. It also helps them study their buildings.

Museum Assessment Program (MAP)

The MAP program helps museums improve their operations. Museums can do a self-assessment and get advice from other museum experts.

Special Programs and Initiatives

IMLS250: All Stories, All People, All Places

This program is getting ready for America's 250th anniversary in 2026. IMLS wants to make sure all stories, people, and places are included in this celebration.

Information Literacy Taskforce

IMLS is bringing together different agencies to help people with information literacy. This means helping people understand and use information well. It helps with topics like health, climate, and public safety.

National Student Poets Program

This program honors young poets who write original work. IMLS partners with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers for this. Each year, five student poets are chosen from across the country. They lead readings and workshops in libraries and schools.

In November 2023, First Lady Jill Biden honored the 2023 National Student Poets at the White House.

Save America's Treasures

This is a grant program that helps save important historic places and collections. IMLS works with the National Park Service and other groups on this.

Museums for All

This program helps low-income families visit museums. IMLS partners with the Association of Children’s Museums. Participating museums offer free or very cheap entry to families with a SNAP EBT card. Over 1,400 museums are part of this program.

National Tribal Broadband Summit

This summit helps bring internet access to Tribal lands. IMLS works with other government groups and Tribal nations. The goal is to make sure Tribal lands are fully connected to the internet.

Communities for Immunity

IMLS worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They helped museums and libraries encourage people to get COVID-19 vaccines.

REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM)

IMLS worked with other groups to create information. This information helps museums, libraries, and archives safely reopen. It helps reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Research and Data Collection

The Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) helps IMLS create strong libraries and museums. ORE does three main things:

• Researches policies.
• Evaluates programs.
• Collects surveys and data.

ORE collects data from public libraries and state library agencies. It also studies what people expect from libraries and museums. This research helps IMLS understand trends and improve services.

Surveys and Data

• Data Catalog: Information about grants and cultural institutions.
• Public Library Survey (PLS): Collects data from over 9,000 public library systems.
• State Library Agency Survey (SLAA): Describes state libraries.
• Public Needs for Library and Museum Services Survey (PNLMS): Measures how satisfied people are with cultural places.
• Museum Data File (MDF): Information about museums in the U.S.
• Administration Discretionary Grant Data: Records of grants funded by IMLS since 1996.

How IMLS Laws Have Changed

Over the years, the laws guiding IMLS have been updated.

Museum and Library Services Act of 1996

This law created IMLS. It combined earlier museum and library programs.

Museum and Library Services Act of 2003

This law updated the first one. It allowed IMLS to do more research and evaluations. It also created the National Museum and Library Services Board.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Act of 2003

This law helped create a new Smithsonian museum. It also gave IMLS money to support African American history and culture museums.

2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act

This law gave IMLS more power. It allowed IMLS to take over some duties from other groups. This helped make library services stronger in the government.

2010 Museum and Library Services Act

This law updated IMLS programs again. It asked IMLS to play a bigger role in research and data. It also recognized how libraries and museums help people get jobs and be good citizens.

2018 Museum and Library Services Act

This law updated IMLS programs and gave it new powers. This included helping to train new museum and library professionals.

2020 National Museum of The American Latino Act

This law created grants and fellowship programs at IMLS. These programs support American Latino museums and related studies.

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  U.S. highest honor for institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.