20 U.S.C. § 9172 — Definitions

Page 1691 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 9173 as follows: ‘‘to encourage and support museums in car- rying 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’’ be- fore ‘‘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 edu- cational 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 meth- ods and facilities so that the museums are better able to conserve the cultural, historic, and scientific her- itage of the United States; and ‘‘(3) to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public.’’ § 9172. Definitions As used in this subchapter: (1) Museum The term ‘‘museum’’ means a public, tribal, or private nonprofit agency or institution or- ganized on a permanent basis for essentially educational, cultural heritage, or aesthetic purposes, that utilizes a professional staff, owns or utilizes tangible objects, cares for the tangible objects, and exhibits the tangible ob- jects to the public on a regular basis. Such term includes museums that have tangible and digital collections and includes aquariums, ar- boretums, botanical gardens, art museums, children’s museums, general museums, his- toric houses and sites, history museums, na- ture centers, natural history and anthropology museums, planetariums, science and tech- nology centers, specialized museums, and zoo- logical parks. (2) State The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 50 States of the United States, the District of Co- lumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Mi- cronesia, and the Republic of Palau. (Pub. L. 94–462, title II, § 273, formerly § 272, as added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 702], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–303; renumbered § 273 and amended Pub. L. 108–81, title III, §§ 302, 306(1), Sept. 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 1000, 1002; Pub. L. 111–340, title III, § 302, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3603; Pub. L. 115–410, § 17, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5420.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 273 of Pub. L. 94–462 was renumbered section 274 and is classified to section 9173 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2018—Par. (1). Pub. L. 115–410, § 17(2), inserted ‘‘, cultural heritage,’’ after ‘‘educational’’. Pub. L. 115–410, § 17(1), which directed insertion of ‘‘, tribal,’’ after ‘‘public’’, was executed by making the insertion after ‘‘public’’ the first time appearing, to re- flect the probable intent of Congress. 2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–340 inserted ‘‘includes mu- seums that have tangible and digital collections and’’ after ‘‘Such term’’. 2003—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–81, § 302, inserted at end: ‘‘Such term includes aquariums, arboretums, botanical gardens, art museums, children’s museums, general museums, historic houses and sites, history museums, nature centers, natural history and anthropology mu- seums, planetariums, science and technology centers, specialized museums, and zoological parks.’’ § 9173. Museum services activities (a) In general The Director, subject to the policy advice of the Museum and Library Services Board, may enter into arrangements, including grants, con- tracts, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance, with museums, States, local gov- ernments, and other entities as the Director considers appropriate, to pay the Federal share of the cost of— (1) supporting museums in providing learn- ing and access to collections, information, and educational resources in a variety of formats (including exhibitions, programs, publications, and websites) for individuals of all ages; (2) supporting museums in building learning partnerships with the Nation’s schools, includ- ing tribal schools, and developing museum re- sources, capabilities, and programs in support of State and local efforts to offer a well-round- ed educational experience to all students; (3) supporting the conservation and preser- vation of museum collections, including ef- forts to— (A) provide optimal conditions for storage, exhibition, and use; (B) prepare for and respond to disasters and emergency situations; (C) establish endowments for conservation; (D) curate, stabilize, and organize object- related information; and (E) train museum staff in collections care; (4) supporting efforts at the State level to le- verage museum resources, including statewide assessments of museum services and needs and development of State plans to improve and maximize museum services through the State; (5) creating shared technology tools and data resources, and developing museum staff training plans to improve and maximize mu- seum services through organizations such as museum associations, professional networks, community-based organizations, and founda- tions, and through other collaborative mecha- nisms; (6) stimulating greater collaboration, in order to share resources and strengthen com- munities, among museums and—