May 8, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Kevin O'Connell, koconnell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Washington, DC—A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Institute of Museum and Library Services and China’s Ministry of Culture has been renewed to extend until 2014. The MOU promotes professional exchanges that enhance museum, library, archival, and information services with the U.S. and China.

"I am so pleased that we will continue the productive partnership between the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China and the United States Institute of Museum and Library Service," said Susan H. Hildreth, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Service. "Working together we have bridged our cultures through programmatic partnership, professional exchange, and sharing Chinese-language materials concerning local history and culture.  Our ‘Think Globally, Act Globally’ initiative has reached more than 3400 U.S. and Chinese librarians. We look forward to lasting success."

The MOU extension was one of a number of initiatives announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during the third annual U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE). The CPE aims to enhance and strengthen ties between the citizens of the United States and China in the areas of education, science and technology, sports, culture, and women’s issues.

For more information about IMLS’s international activities, see http://www.imls.gov/about/international.aspx.

Read the full Memorandum of Understanding.

For more information about the third U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, see http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/05/189303.htm.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, we help communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.