Legal Definitions - Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a federal agency that provides grants to support libraries and museums. It was established in 1996 as part of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.

The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities is a federal foundation that supports progress in the humanities and the arts. It does this by providing funding to the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The foundation was created by Congress in 1965.

Examples of how IMLS supports libraries and museums include:

• Providing funding for library programs that promote literacy and lifelong learning
• Supporting museum exhibitions and educational programs that engage diverse audiences
• Providing resources and training for librarians and museum professionals to improve their skills and knowledge

These examples illustrate how IMLS helps to strengthen and improve libraries and museums across the United States, making them more accessible and valuable to their communities.