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) building workforce and institutional capacity for managing the national information infrastructure and serving the information and education needs of the public;
(2)(A) research and demonstration projects related to the improvement of libraries or the enhancement of library and information services through effective and efficient use of new technologies, including projects that enable library users to acquire digital literacy skills and that make information resources more accessible and available; and
(B) dissemination of information derived from such projects;
(3) preserving or digitizing 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, including the development of national, regional, statewide, or local emergency plans that would ensure the preservation of knowledge and library collections in the event of a disaster; and
(4) model programs demonstrating cooperative efforts between libraries and museums.
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 with, libraries, agencies, institutions of higher education, or museums, where appropriate.
Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this section shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
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; Pub. L. 108–81, title II, §207, title V, §504(g), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1000, 1004; Pub. L. 111–340, title II, §206, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3601.)
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