§ 9121. Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) to enhance coordination among Federal programs that relate to library and information services;

(2) to promote continuous improvement in library services in all types of libraries in order to better serve the people of the United States;

(3) to facilitate access to resources in all types of libraries for the purpose of cultivating an educated and informed citizenry;

(4) to encourage resource sharing among all types of libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and efficient delivery of library services to the public;

(5) to promote literacy, education, and lifelong learning and to enhance and expand the services and resources provided by libraries, including those services and resources relating to workforce development, 21st century skills, and digital literacy skills;

(6) to enhance the skills of the current library workforce and to recruit future professionals to the field of library and information services;

(7) to ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in all formats and to enable libraries to serve their communities during disasters;

(8) to enhance the role of libraries within the information infrastructure of the United States in order to support research, education, and innovation; and

(9) to promote library services that provide users with access to information through national, State, local, regional, and international collaborations and networks.

(Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 212, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–295; amended Pub. L. 108–81, title II, § 201, Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 997; Pub. L. 111–340, title II, § 201, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3599.)

Amendments

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–340, § 201(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “to consolidate Federal library service programs;”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–340, § 201(2), inserted “continuous” after “promote”.

Pars. (5) to (9). Pub. L. 111–340, § 201(3)–(5), added pars. (5) to (9).

2003—Pars. (2) to (5). Pub. L. 108–81 added pars. (2) to (4) and struck out former pars. (2) to (5) which read as follows:

“(2) to stimulate excellence and promote access to learning and information resources in all types of libraries for individuals of all ages;

“(3) to promote library services that provide all users access to information through State, regional, national and international electronic networks;

“(4) to provide linkages among and between libraries; and

“(5) to promote targeted library services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited functional literacy or information skills.”