FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2006

Press Contact
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Institute of Museum and Library Services Awards Over $160 Million to State Libraries

Funding Helps Americans Build Skills Necessary to Succeed in the 21st Century

Washington, DC—Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D., Director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), announced grants totaling more than $163 million to states for library service. “This funding helps libraries meet the changing needs of their communities,” said Dr. Radice. A recent national study from the American Library Association (ALA) underscores this assertion -- 92% of American’s surveyed believe libraries will still be needed in the future, even with all of the information available on the Internet.*

IMLS’ Library Grants to the States is the premier source of federal funding to the nation’s libraries. The grants are awarded under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and states provide at least one dollar for every two dollars of federal support. States invest the dollars to expand learning resources and access to information for individuals from all walks of life.

"These funds help libraries promote literacy; provide services to children, teens and families; connect seniors to health information; offer computer training and even develop community disaster preparedness plans," said Radice. "Whatever the community needs -- the library can be a part of the solution."

Click here for examples of how states invest IMLS’ Library Grants to States. Grant amounts are determined by a population-based formula and the state’s library administers the funds. The state library may distribute the funds through subgrant competitions or cooperative agreements to public, academic, research, school, and special libraries in their state.

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 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.

* American Library Association. @ your library: Attitudes Toward Public Libraries Survey 2006 [January 2006] http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/reports/2006KRCReport.pdf.