The mission of IMLS is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research, policy development, and grant making. IMLS supports key issues of national concern:

Director's Message: Summer Learning is Important to Student Success

The lack of access to summer learning opportunities can put young people at risk. Education policy makers are looking for strategies to combat "summer slide" and libraries and museums are part of the solution. Read More.

Let's Move! Museums & Gardens

This national initiative provides opportunities for millions of museum and garden visitors to learn about healthy food choices and promote physical activity through interactive exhibits and programs. Read more.

Musuems, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills

The Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills initiative underscores the critical role our nation’s museums and libraries play in helping citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness. Read more.

Children build vocabulary while planting and harvesting vegetables at Hopkins Library.

May 2012: Making Learning to Read Child’s Play

The Minnesota Children’s Museum and area libraries are teaming up to create interactive exhibits that reflect each neighborhood’s unique character and spur pre-reading skills. Read more.