Title 20 — Education
Chapter 72 — Museum and Library Services
§ 9171. Purpose
Statutory text
It is the purpose of this subchapter—
to encourage and support museums in carrying out their educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with schools, families, and communities;
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;
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;
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;
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;
to support resource sharing and partnerships among museums, libraries, schools, and other community organizations;
to encourage and support museums as a part of economic development and revitalization in communities;
to ensure museums of various types and sizes in diverse geographic regions of the United States are afforded attention and support;
to support efforts at the State and regional levels to leverage museum resources and maximize museum services; and
to assist museums in their civic engagement efforts to ensure that every person in the United States has access to high-quality museum services.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Arts, Humanities, and Cultural Affairs Act of 1976
Pub. L. 94–462 title II § 272 · 90 Stat. 1971
Enacted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171
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
Source evidence
Code source credit
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, 3009–302Museum and Library Services Act of 2003
Pub. L. 108–81 § 301 · 117 Stat. 991
Amended · 20 U.S.C. § 9171
Pub. L. 108–81, § 301, amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It is the purpose of this subchapter—
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 108–81, § 301, amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It is the purpose of this subchapter—“(1) to encourage and assist museums in their educational role, in conjunction with formal systems of elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education and with programs of nonformal education for all age groups; “(2) to assist museums in modernizing their methods and facilities so that the museums are better able to conserve the cultural, historic, and scientific heritage of the United States; and “(3) to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public.”
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 301. PURPOSE. Section 271 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9171) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 271. PURPOSE. “It is the purpose of this subtitle— “(1) 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 heritage; “(2) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with schools, families, and communities; “(3) to encourage leadership, innovation, and applications of the most current technologies and practices to enhance museum services; “(4) to assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying out their stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest standards in conservation and care of the 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 a result of their increasing use by the public; and “(6) to support resource sharing and partnerships among museums, libraries, schools, and other community organizations.” .Museum and Library Services Act of 2010
Pub. L. 111–340 § 301(1) · 124 Stat. 3594
Inserted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(3)
Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(1), inserted “through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships” after “services”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(1), inserted “through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships” after “services”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting “through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships” after “services”;Museum and Library Services Act of 2010
Pub. L. 111–340 § 301(2) · 124 Stat. 3594
Added · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(7)(9)
Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(2)–(4), added pars. (7) to (9)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pars. (7) to (9). Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(2)–(4), added pars. (7) to (9).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking “and” after the semicolon;Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(1) · 132 Stat. 5412
Redesignated · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(1)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(1), (2), redesignated par. (2) as (1)
Struck · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(1)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(1), (2), struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “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 heritage;”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(1), (2), redesignated par. (2) as (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “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 heritage;”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) by striking paragraph (1);Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(3) · 132 Stat. 5412
Redesignated · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(2)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following: “(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;” ;Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(4) · 132 Stat. 5412
Inserted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(4)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(4), inserted “diverse” before “cultural”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (4). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(4), inserted “diverse” before “cultural”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting “diverse” before “cultural”;Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(5) · 132 Stat. 5412
Substituted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(5)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(5), substituted “as they serve their communities in new and different ways” for “as a result of their increasing use by the public”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (5). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(5), substituted “as they serve their communities in new and different ways” for “as a result of their increasing use by the public”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(5) in paragraph (5), by striking “as a result of their increasing use by the public” and inserting “as they serve their communities in new and different ways”;Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(7) · 132 Stat. 5412
Substituted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(9)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(7), substituted “State and regional levels” for “State level”
Substituted · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(9)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(7), substituted “services; and” for “services.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (9). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(7), substituted “State and regional levels” for “State level” and “services; and” for “services.”Enacted provision · exact public law section
(7) in paragraph (9)— (A) by striking “State level” and inserting “State and regional levels”; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; andMuseum and Library Services Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–410 § 16(6) · 132 Stat. 5412
Added · 20 U.S.C. § 9171(10)
Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(6), (8), added par. (10)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Par. (10). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(6), (8), added par. (10).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(6) in paragraph (8), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
11 of 12 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 272 of Pub. L. 94–462 was renumbered section 273 and is classified to section 9172 of this title.
Amendments2003–2018 · 3 rounds
2018
Par. (1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(1), (2), redesignated par. (2) as (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “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 heritage;”.
Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1).
Par. (4). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(4), inserted “diverse” before “cultural”.
Par. (5). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(5), substituted “as they serve their communities in new and different ways” for “as a result of their increasing use by the public”.
Par. (9). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(7), substituted “State and regional levels” for “State level” and “services; and” for “services.”
Par. (10). Pub. L. 115–410, § 16(6), (8), added par. (10).
2010
Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(1), inserted “through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships” after “services”.
Pars. (7) to (9). Pub. L. 111–340, § 301(2)–(4), added pars. (7) to (9).
2003
Pub. L. 108–81, § 301, amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It is the purpose of this subchapter—
“(1) to encourage and assist museums in their educational role, in conjunction with formal systems of elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education and with programs of nonformal education for all age groups;
“(2) to assist museums in modernizing their methods and facilities so that the museums are better able to conserve the cultural, historic, and scientific heritage of the United States; and
“(3) to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public.”
Credits
1996–2018 · 4 acts
- 1996Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 272, formerly § 271, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], , 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–302
- 2003renumbered § 272 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 301, 306(1), , 117 Stat. 1000, 1002
- 2010Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 301, , 124 Stat. 3603
- 2018Pub. L. 115–410, § 16, , 132 Stat. 5419.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 272, formerly § 271, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], , 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–302; renumbered § 272 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 301, 306(1), , 117 Stat. 1000, 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 301, , 124 Stat. 3603; Pub. L. 115–410, § 16, , 132 Stat. 5419.)