PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Director must regularly do and support research, collect and analyze data, build models, evaluate programs, and share what is learned so museums, libraries, and information services can get better and meet community needs. The work focuses on helping these institutions spot trends and gaps, show their value and impact (including the effects of Federal programs), measure how well they work, find ways to be more efficient, share useful methods and practices, build planning and capacity at national, State, local, and regional levels and with international partners, and support networks that use shared data to solve community problems. The Director can make grants, contracts, and agreements with federal agencies, public and private groups, and experts. The Director must consult and collaborate with State library agencies and national, State, tribal, and regional museum and library organizations, and may also work with other networks, agencies, data experts, international groups, and community stakeholders. Technical help will be offered to make data reporting consistent. Each year the Director must widely share the results, methods, and information about collaborations in easy-to-use, searchable formats. Congress authorized $3,500,000 for each fiscal year 2020 through 2025 for this work, and those funds remain available until spent.

Title 20, §9108

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(a)In general

The Director shall regularly support and conduct, as appropriate, policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination of information to extend and improve the Nation’s museum, library, and information services.

(b)Objectives

The objectives of the policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination of information carried out under this section include the following:

(1)To enhance and expand the capacity of museums, libraries, and information services to anticipate, respond to, and meet the evolving needs of communities and the public, including by identifying trends and developments that may impact the need for and delivery of services.

(2)To provide information and data on the role, value, and impact of museum, library, and information resources, including the identification of trends and potential gaps in the availability and use of museum and library services by their communities and the public.

(3)To measure the effectiveness of museums, libraries, and information services throughout the United States, including the impact of Federal programs authorized under this chapter.

(4)To identify indicators and outcomes that can be used to create enhancements to the efficiency and efficacy of museum, library, and information services.

(5)To promote advancement and growth in museum, library, and information services through sharing of best practices and effective strategies in order to better serve the people of the United States.

(6)To facilitate planning for, and building of, institutional capacity in order to improve—

(A)museum, library, and information services at the national, State, local, and regional levels; and

(B)international communications and cooperative networks.

(7)To support and enhance collaborative professional networks and consortia that use shared, meaningful, and actionable data analysis and modeling to advance museum, library, and information services and address community needs.

(c)Authority to contract and enter into other arrangements

The Director is authorized to enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other arrangements with Federal agencies, public and private organizations, and other entities with expertise the Director determines appropriate, to further the objectives described in subsection (b) and to carry out the responsibilities under subsection (f).

(d)Consultation and public engagement

In carrying out subsection (a) and in furtherance of the objectives described in subsection (b), the Director— (1)

(2)may also collaborate or consult with—

(A)cooperative networks of geographic- or discipline-based museums and libraries; and

(B)other applicable agencies, organizations (including international organizations), entities (including entities with expertise in the fields of data collection, analysis and modeling, and evaluation), and community stakeholders.

(e)Assistance to museums and libraries

The Director shall provide technical support and assistance (and other resources, to the extent practicable) to ensure consistency in data reporting and help the museum and library fields with meeting the objectives of this section.

(f)Dissemination

(1)In general

Each year, the Director shall widely disseminate, as appropriate to further the objectives described in subsection (b)—

(A)the results, data, reports, findings, studies, surveys, and other information obtained under this section;

(B)the means and approaches by which the objectives described in subsection (b) were accomplished; and

(C)information regarding the manner and extent to which collaboration and consultation were conducted, as required by subsection (d).

(2)Formats to be used

The information described in paragraph (1) shall be shared in formats that facilitate access and ease of use and are searchable.

(g)Authorization of appropriations

(1)In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2025.

(2)Availability of funds

Sums appropriated under paragraph (1) for any fiscal year shall remain available for obligation until expended.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), 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.

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–410, § 5(1), substituted “Policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination” for “Policy research, analysis, data collection, and dissemination” in section catchline. Subsecs. (a) to (f). Pub. L. 115–410, § 5(3), added subsecs. (a) to (f) and struck out former subsecs. (a) to (e) which required the Director annually to conduct policy research, analysis, and data collection to improve the Nation’s museum, library, and information services, set out requirements and objectives for the research, required dissemination of the results, and provided contract authority. Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–410, § 5(2), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g). Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 5(4), substituted “each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2025” for “fiscal year 2011 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2016”. 2010—Pub. L. 111–340 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “From amounts described in section 9123(c) and 9176(b) of this title, the Director shall carry out and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services. Such analyses— “(1) shall be conducted in ongoing consultation with— “(A) State library administrative agencies; “(B) State, regional, and national library and museum organizations; and “(C) other relevant agencies and organizations; “(2) shall identify national needs for, and trends of, museum and library services provided with funds made available under subchapters II and III of this chapter; “(3) shall report on the impact and effectiveness of programs conducted with funds made available by the Institute in addressing such needs; and “(4) shall identify, and disseminate information on, the best practices of such programs to the agencies and entities described in paragraph (1).”

§9108 Policy Research, Data Collection, Analysis and Modeling, Evaluation, and Dissemination