Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§9103 Director of Institute

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 72— - MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 9103

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President, with the Senate’s approval, picks a Director to run the Institute. The Director serves for 4 years. If no confirmed replacement is ready when the term ends, the Director may stay up to 1 more year or until a successor is confirmed, whichever comes first. After September 30, 1996, Directors must alternate between people with special library skills and people with special museum skills. The Director can be paid at Executive Schedule level III (5 U.S.C. 5314). The Director must make and carry out policy so museums, libraries, and information services meet Americans’ information, education, research, economic, cultural, and civic needs. The Director must advise the President, Congress, and other agencies; work with federal, state, local, and private groups to assess needs and plan services; run research, data, and grant programs; and make sure these services fit into the nation’s information and education systems. The Director cannot give these duties to anyone who is not an Institute officer or employee. The Director may make interagency agreements (with or without reimbursement) and use chapter funds for them, and must coordinate work with other federal programs and departments (for example, education, labor, health, science, commerce, veterans, defense, Homeland Security, environmental and arts agencies). The Director may create rules needed to carry out the chapter. To get financial help under this chapter, applicants must follow rules the Director sets. The Director decides how applications are reviewed, using criteria that match the chapter’s goals and respect general standards of decency and diverse public beliefs. The rules must say that obscene material has no serious value and is not protected, no funds may support obscene projects, and rejecting an application is not proof that a project is or is not obscene.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §9103

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Institute shall be headed by a Director, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2)The Director shall serve for a term of 4 years, except that if a successor to the Director has not been appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as of the date of expiration of the Director’s term, the Director may serve for not more than 1 additional year or until a successor is appointed and confirmed, whichever is earlier.
(3)Beginning with the first individual appointed to the position of Director after September 30, 1996, every second individual so appointed shall be appointed from among individuals who have special competence with regard to library and information services. Beginning with the second individual appointed to the position of Director after September 30, 1996, every second individual so appointed shall be appointed from among individuals who have special competence with regard to museum services.
(b)The Director may be compensated at the rate provided for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5.
(c)(1)The Director shall have primary responsibility for the development and implementation of policy to ensure the availability of museum, library, and information services adequate to meet the essential information, education, research, economic, cultural, and civic needs of the people of the United States.
(2)In carrying out the responsibility described in paragraph (1), the Director shall—
(A)advise the President, Congress, and other Federal agencies and offices on museum, library, and information services in order to ensure the creation, preservation, organization, and dissemination of knowledge;
(B)engage Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and private entities in assessing the museum, library, and information services needs of the people of the United States, and coordinate the development of plans, policies, and activities to meet such needs effectively;
(C)carry out programs of research and development, data collection, and financial assistance to extend and improve the museum, library, and information services of the people of the United States; and
(D)ensure that museum, library, and information services are fully integrated into the information and education infrastructures of the United States.
(d)The Director shall not delegate any of the functions of the Director to any person who is not an officer or employee of the Institute.
(e)The Director may—
(1)enter into interagency agreements to promote or assist with the museum, library, and information services-related activities of other Federal agencies, on either a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis; and
(2)use funds appropriated under this chapter for the costs of such activities.
(f)The Director shall ensure coordination of the policies and activities of the Institute with the policies and activities of other agencies and offices of the Federal Government having interest in and responsibilities for the improvement of museums and libraries and information services. Where appropriate, the Director shall ensure that such policies and activities are coordinated with—
(1)programs and activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.] (including programs and activities under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title II [20 U.S.C. 6641 et seq., 6661 et seq.], and parts A and B of title IV [20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., 7171 et seq.], of such Act);
(2)programs and activities under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) (including programs and activities under subparagraphs (H)(vii) and (J)(iii) of section 641(d)(2) of such Act) (42 U.S.C. 9836(d)(2)); 11 See References in Text note below.
(3)activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.] (including activities under section 121(e) of such Act [29 U.S.C. 3151(e)])); 22 So in original. The second closing parenthesis probably should not appear. and
(4)Federal programs and activities that increase the capacity of libraries and museums to act as partners in supporting economic and community development, providing education and research, improving digital literacy skills, strengthening financial literacy and other types of literacy skills, and enhancing public safety and health awareness.
(g)The Director shall work jointly with the individuals heading relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and the Director of the United States Government Publishing Office, or the designees of such individuals, on—
(1)initiatives, materials, technology, or research to support education, workforce development, economic and business development, and related activities and services undertaken by libraries;
(2)resource and policy approaches to eliminate barriers to fully leveraging the role of libraries and museums in supporting the early learning, literacy, lifelong learning, digital literacy, workforce development, and education needs of the people of the United States; and
(3)initiatives, materials, technology, or research to support educational, cultural, historical, scientific, environmental, and other activities undertaken by museums.
(h)The Director may promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary and appropriate to implement the provisions of this chapter.
(i)(1)In order to be eligible to receive financial assistance under this chapter, a person or agency shall submit an application in accordance with procedures established by the Director by regulation.
(2)The Director shall establish procedures for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted under this chapter. Actions of the Institute and the Director in the establishment, modification, and revocation of such procedures under this chapter are vested in the discretion of the Institute and the Director. In establishing such procedures, the Director shall ensure that the criteria by which applications are evaluated are consistent with the purposes of this chapter, taking into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public.
(3)(A)The procedures described in paragraph (2) shall include provisions that clearly specify that obscenity is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific merit, and is not protected speech.
(B)No financial assistance may be provided under this chapter with respect to any project that is determined to be obscene.
(C)The disapproval of an application by the Director shall not be construed to mean, and shall not be considered as evidence that, the project for which the applicant requested financial assistance is or is not obscene.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2) and the second place it appears in subsec. (i)(2), was in the original “this Act” and was translated as reading “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 94–462, known as the Museum and Library Services Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27, which is classified generally to chapter 70 (§ 6301 et seq.) of this title. Subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title II of the Act are classified generally to subparts 2 (§ 6641 et seq.) and 3 (§ 6661 et seq.), respectively, of subchapter II of chapter 70 of this title. Parts A and B of title IV of the Act are classified generally to parts A (§ 7101 et seq.) and B (§ 7171 et seq.), respectively, of subchapter IV of chapter 70 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables. The Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), is subchapter B (§ 635 et seq.) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of Pub. L. 97–35, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 499, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 9831 et seq.) of chapter 105 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Cl. (vii) of section 641(d)(2)(H) of that Act was redesignated cl. (vi) by Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(nn)(2)(A)(ii), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2176, and is now classified to section 9836(d)(2)(H)(vi) of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 9801 of Title 42 and Tables. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(3), is Pub. L. 113–128, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1425, which enacted chapter 32 (§ 3101 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor, repealed chapter 30 (§ 2801 et seq.) of Title 29 and chapter 73 (§ 9201 et seq.) of this title, and made

Amendments

to numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3101 of Title 29 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 204 of Pub. L. 94–462 was classified to section 963 of this title prior to the general amendment of title II of Pub. L. 94–462 by Pub. L. 104–208.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(1), inserted “, except that if a successor to the Director has not been appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as of the date of expiration of the Director’s term, the Director may serve for not more than 1 additional year or until a successor is appointed and confirmed, whichever is earlier” before period at end. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(2)(A), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “activities under section 6646 of this title;”. Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(2)(B), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “Federal programs and activities that increase the capacity of libraries and museums to act as partners in economic and community development, education and research, improving digital literacy skills, and disseminating health information.” Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(3)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted “Humanities, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and the Director of the United States Government Publishing Office,” for “Humanities, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,”. Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(3)(B), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “initiatives, materials, or technology to support workforce development activities undertaken by libraries;”. Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 115–410, § 3(3)(C), substituted “technology, or research” for “or technology”. 2015—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 114–95 added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “activities under section 6383 of this title;”. 2014—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 113–128 substituted “activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (including activities under section 121(e) of such Act))” for “activities under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) (including activities under section 134(c) of such Act) (29 U.S.C. 2864(c))”. 2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–340, § 102(1), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Director shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as may be prescribed by law, including awarding financial assistance for activities described in this chapter.” Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 111–340, § 102(3), added subsecs. (e) to (g) and struck out former subsec. (e). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (e) read as follows: “The Director shall ensure coordination of the policies and activities of the Institute with the policies and activities of other agencies and offices of the Federal Government having interest in and responsibilities for the improvement of museums and libraries and information services. Where appropriate, the Director shall ensure that activities under subchapter II of this chapter are coordinated with activities under section 6383 of this title.” Former subsecs. (f) and (g) redesignated (h) and (i), respectively. Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 111–340, § 102(2), redesignated subsecs. (f) and (g) as (h) and (i), respectively. 2003—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–81, § 103(1), inserted at end “Where appropriate, the Director shall ensure that activities under subchapter II of this chapter are coordinated with activities under section 6383 of this title.” Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 108–81, § 103(2), added subsecs. (f) and (g).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2014 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–128 effective on the first day of the first full program year after
July 22, 2014 (
July 1, 2015), see section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3101 of Title 29, Labor. Service of Individuals Serving on September 30, 1996 Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 705], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–311, which provided that the individual who was appointed to the position of Director of the Institute of Museum Services and was serving in such position on the day before Sept. 30, 1996, would serve, at the pleasure of the President, as the first Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–81, title V, § 505(b), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1004.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 9103

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73