20 USC 9172 - Definitions

Collapse to view only § 9172. Definitions

§ 9171. Purpose
§ 9172. Definitions
§ 9173. Museum services activities
§ 9174. Repealed.
§ 9175. 21st century museum professional program
§ 9176. Authorization of appropriations

§ 9171. Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with schools, families, and communities;

(2) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their public service role of connecting the whole of society to the cultural, artistic, historical, natural, and scientific understandings that constitute our diverse heritage;

(3) to encourage leadership, innovation, and applications of the most current technologies and practices to enhance museum services through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships;

(4) to assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying out their stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest standards in conservation and care of the diverse cultural, historic, natural, and scientific heritage of the United States to benefit future generations;

(5) to assist, encourage, and support museums in achieving the highest standards of management and service to the public, and to ease the financial burden borne by museums as they serve their communities in new and different ways;

(6) to support resource sharing and partnerships among museums, libraries, schools, and other community organizations;

(7) to encourage and support museums as a part of economic development and revitalization in communities;

(8) to ensure museums of various types and sizes in diverse geographic regions of the United States are afforded attention and support;

(9) to support efforts at the State and regional levels to leverage museum resources and maximize museum services; and

(10) to assist museums in their civic engagement efforts to ensure that every person in the United States has access to high-quality museum services.

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 272, formerly § 271, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–302; renumbered § 272 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 301, 306(1), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1000, 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 301, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3603; Pub. L. 115–410, § 16, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5419.)

§ 9172. Definitions

As used in this subchapter:

(1) Museum

(2) State

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 273, formerly § 272, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–303; renumbered § 273 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 302, 306(1), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1000, 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 302, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3603; Pub. L. 115–410, § 17, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5420.)

§ 9173. Museum services activities

(a) In generalThe Director, subject to the policy advice of the Museum and Library Services Board, may enter into arrangements, including grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance, with museums, States, local governments, and other entities as the Director considers appropriate, to pay the Federal share of the cost of—

(1) supporting museums in providing learning and access to collections, information, and educational resources in a variety of formats (including exhibitions, programs, publications, and websites) for individuals of all ages;

(2) supporting museums in building learning partnerships with the Nation’s schools, including tribal schools, and developing museum resources, capabilities, and programs in support of State and local efforts to offer a well-rounded educational experience to all students;

(3) supporting the conservation and preservation of museum collections, including efforts to—

(A) provide optimal conditions for storage, exhibition, and use;

(B) prepare for and respond to disasters and emergency situations;

(D) curate, stabilize, and organize object-related information; and

(E) train museum staff in collections care;

(4) supporting efforts at the State level to leverage museum resources, including statewide assessments of museum services and needs and development of State plans to improve and maximize museum services through the State;

(5) creating shared technology tools and data resources, and developing museum staff training plans to improve and maximize museum services through organizations such as museum associations, professional networks, community-based organizations, and foundations, and through other collaborative mechanisms;

(6) stimulating greater collaboration, in order to share resources and strengthen communities, among museums and—

(A) libraries;

(B) schools;

(D) international, Federal, State, regional, tribal, and local agencies or organizations;

(E) nongovernmental organizations;

(F) other community organizations; and

(G) other relevant research and policy organizations;

(7) encouraging the use of new and emerging technologies and media, including new ways to disseminate information, engage varied audiences in experiential learning, and support teachers and students to enhance access to and engagement with museum collections, programs, and services;

(8) supporting museums in developing, carrying out, and providing programs and services that meet the needs of communities throughout the Nation, including people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, residents of rural and urban areas, Native Americans, military families, veterans, and caregivers, and for State institutions;

(9) supporting professional development and technical assistance programs to enhance museum operations, and the skills of museum staff, at all levels, and to support the development of the next generation of museum leaders and professionals, in order to ensure the highest standards in all aspects of museum operations;

(10) supporting museums in research, program evaluation, and the collection and dissemination of information to museum professionals and the public;

(11) encouraging, supporting, and disseminating model programs of museum and library collaboration;

(12) enabling museums to serve as anchor institutions to support community revitalization and the creation of opportunities for advancement; and

(13) developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations to expand and enhance museum services.

(b) Federal share

(1) 50 percent

(2) Greater than 50 percent

(3) Operational expenses

(1) In general

(2) Grant distribution

(3) Applications for technical assistance

(A) In general

(B) Individual museums

(d) Services for Native Americans

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 274, formerly § 273, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–303; renumbered § 274 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 303, 306(1), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1000, 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 303, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3603; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(aaa)(4), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2184; Pub. L. 115–410, § 18, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5420.)

§ 9174. Repealed. Pub. L. 108–81, title III, § 304, Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1002

§ 9175. 21st century museum professional program

(a) Purpose

It is the purpose of this section to develop and enhance the diverse workforce of museum professionals in order to best anticipate and serve the needs of their local communities and the public by—

(1) recruiting and educating future museum professionals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, including through encouraging middle or high school students and postsecondary students to pursue careers and build skills in museum services;

(2) developing museum leaders from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, including by increasing the capacity of institutions that offer early career and mid-career professional development, specialized training, and leadership programs that directly relate to museum studies and management; and

(3) supporting the professional development of current museum professionals and the museum workforce to enable them to meet identified needs of their communities.

(b) Activities

From the amounts provided under section 9176 of this title, the Director may enter into arrangements, including grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance, with museums, museum consortia and associations, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 9165(b) of this title), and other entities that the Director determines appropriate, for projects that further the purpose of this section, such as projects that—

(1) increase the number of students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds enrolled in graduate and undergraduate museum-related programs as well as other relevant programs offered through other education-focused entities, such as State and local governments, associations, and nonprofit organizations, in order to effectively prepare the students for, and retain the students in, careers in museum services;

(2) recruit future museum professionals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, including efforts to attract promising middle school, high school, or postsecondary students to consider careers in museum services such as through offering paid internships, mentoring, and fellowship opportunities;

(3) develop new or enhance current professional development and retention programs for museum professionals and the museum workforce, including through mid-career skill-building, mentoring, and fellowships, and by supporting the development of local and regional networks for those who may not have easy access to such opportunities; and

(4) support and conduct research, needs assessments, pilot programs, and evaluation of education and professional development programs to explore successful approaches that can successfully recruit, prepare, educate, and retain the next generation of museum professionals.

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 275, as added Pub. L. 115–410, § 19(2), Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5421.)

§ 9176. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Grants

(b) Sums remaining available

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 276, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–306; renumbered § 275 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, § 305, Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 304, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3604; renumbered § 276 and amended Pub. L. 115–410, §§ 19(1), 20, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5421, 5422.)