Federal Government Invests $200M in Libraries and Museums to Stimulate American Communities

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced that President Biden has signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which designates $200 million in pandemic response funding for IMLS. Yesterday, both chambers of Congress approved the stimulus plan, a $1.9 trillion response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

The $200 million investment will enable IMLS to efficiently provide critical funding to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs), located in every state and territory and with reach into local communities across the U.S. IMLS will also offer grants to museums, libraries, and Native American and Native Hawaiian communities, so that they may to continue to respond to the COVID-19 health emergency.

The forthcoming grant awards will support the vital programs and services these institutions provide to their communities, including those they were able to offer in new capacities throughout the past year.

“The coronavirus pandemic persists in taking its harsh toll on communities. This infusion of support for America’s vital community institutions is crucial,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “The need for access to information for health, job, educational, and unemployment resources continues across the country, especially in communities that were already vulnerable. We are dedicated to reaching those who need this funding the most as quickly as we can, through U.S. states and territories and directly to libraries and museums.”

For more details about the SLAA funding, please see the state allotment tables.

The passage of ARPA comes one year after the 2020 WHO declaration of the coronavirus pandemic. In March 2020, $50 million in CARES Act funding was also allocated for IMLS. For more information about IMLS CARES Act awards, please visit imls.gov/coronavirus.

For more information about IMLS, please visit imls.gov and subscribe to email news updates.

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 libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.