§9162. National leadership grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements

(a) In general

From the amounts reserved under section 9131(a)(1)(B) of this title for any fiscal year the Director shall establish and carry out a program of awarding grants or entering into contracts or cooperative agreements to enhance the quality of library services nationwide and to provide coordination between libraries and museums. Such grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements shall be used for activities that may include-

(1) education and training of persons in library and information science, particularly in areas of new technology and other critical needs, including graduate fellowships, traineeships, institutes, or other programs;

(2) research and demonstration projects related to the improvement of libraries, education in library and information science, enhancement of library services through effective and efficient use of new technologies, and dissemination of information derived from such projects;

(3) preserving or digitization of library materials and resources, giving priority to projects emphasizing coordination, avoidance of duplication, and access by researchers beyond the institution or library entity undertaking the project; and

(4) model programs demonstrating cooperative efforts between libraries and museums.

(b) Grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements

(1) In general

The Director may carry out the activities described in subsection (a) of this section by awarding grants to, or entering into contracts or cooperative agreements,¹ with, libraries, agencies, institutions of higher education, or museums, where appropriate.

(2) Competitive basis

Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this section shall be awarded on a competitive basis.

(c) Special rule

The Director shall make every effort to ensure that activities assisted under this section are administered by appropriate library and museum professionals or experts.

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, §262, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(e) [title VII, §702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233 , 3009-302; amended Pub. L. 105–128, §§7, 8, Dec. 1, 1997, 111 Stat. 2549 , 2550.)

Amendments

1997-Pub. L. 105–128, §7(1), substituted section catchline for former catchline which read as follows: "National leadership grants or contracts".

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–128, §7(2), in introductory provisions, substituted "program of awarding grants or entering into contracts or cooperative agreements" for "program awarding national leadership grants or contracts" and "Such grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements" for "Such grants or contracts".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 105–128, §8, substituted "preserving or digitization" for "preservation of digitization".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–128, §7(3)(A), substituted heading for former heading which read as follows: "Grants or contracts".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–128, §7(3)(B), inserted "or cooperative agreements," after "contracts".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–128, §7(3)(C), substituted "Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements" for "Grants and contracts".

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1504, 9131, 9175 of this title.

¹ So in original. The comma probably should not appear.