20 U.S.C. § 80s–1 — Establishment of joint project at Library of Congress and National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of histories of participants in American Civil Rights movement

(a) Creating the project: (1) Within the limits of available funds, the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, acting together, must create an oral history project to: (A) survey, in the project's first phase, collections of audio and video recordings of Civil Rights movement participants' reminiscences already held by archives, libraries, museums, and other institutions, plus ongoing documentary work, so the project adds to these efforts without duplicating them; (B) solicit, reproduce, and collect (i) video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials from Civil Rights movement participants, and (ii) related visual and written materials, like letters, diaries, photographs, and other items; (C) create a collection of everything gathered, and catalog and index it in whatever way the Librarian and Secretary think fits; and (D) make the collection available for public use through the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, plus any other methods the Librarian and Secretary think fit. (2) The Secretary must carry out the Secretary's duties under this subchapter through the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (b) Working with other groups: The Librarian and the Secretary may carry out the activities in (a)(1) through agreements and partnerships with other government and private groups, and may consult with interested people and develop guidelines and arrangements for soliciting, acquiring, and sharing recordings, within available resources. (c) Experts, volunteers, and advance payments: In carrying out (a)(1), the Librarian and Secretary may: (1) hire temporary and intermittent help under section 3109 of title 5; (2) accept and use volunteers and other uncompensated help, reimbursing them for travel expenses including per diem, as allowed under section 5703 of title 5; and (3) make cash advances and advance payments as allowed under section 3324 of title 31. (d) Timing: As soon as practical after May 12, 2009, the Librarian and Secretary had to begin collecting recordings and materials under (a)(1), trying to collect from the oldest participants first. (e) Definition: In this subchapter, "Civil Rights movement" means the movement to secure racial equality for African Americans in the United States that, focused on the period 1954 through 1968, challenged racial segregation and won equal-rights legislation for all American citizens.