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On September 25, 2003 President Bush signed into law the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-81). Recognizing the effectiveness of the
new agency, this legislation reauthorized federal appropriations for IMLS through 2009. But the framers of the 2003 law also sought to capitalize on lessons
learned since 1996 by amending the initial MLSA in several ways.
The new law:
- updated the purpose of the Museum Services Act to include: to encourage museums to achieve the highest standards of management and service to the
public; to promote their educational role in conjunction with schools, families, and communities; and to carry out their stewardship responsibilities
to achieve the highest standards in conservation and care of the cultural historic, natural, and scientific heritage of the United States to benefit
future generations;
- updated the purposes of the Library Services and Technology Act to promote improvements in library services in all types of libraries; to facilitate
access to, and sharing of, resources; and to achieve economical and efficient delivery of service for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed
citizenry.
- authorized a doubling of the minimum state allotment under the Grants to States Library Agencies program.
- supports efforts, spearheaded by First Lady Laura Bush, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians addressing an impending critical
shortage of professional librarians in the United States.
- provides the Director of IMLS with the authority to award a National Award for Library Services, along with the National Award for Museum Services
authorized in 1996.
- replaced the previous advisory panel system with a single National Museum and Library Services Board, comprising agency leadership and 20 presidential
appointees confirmed by the Senate.
- requires an annual analysis to identify trends and needs for museum and library services.
- created authority IMLS to support Native American and Native Hawaiian museum services in addition to its similar existing authority for library services.
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