20 U.S.C. § 9162 — National leadership grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements

(a) From funds reserved under section 9131(a)(1)(B), the Director^* must establish and operate a program to improve library^* services nationwide and coordinate libraries and museums. Activities may include: (1) building workforce and institutional ability to manage national information infrastructure and meet public information and education needs; (2)(A) research and demonstrations improving libraries or library and information services through effective, efficient new or emerging technology, including digital-literacy projects and projects improving access to information; and (B) sharing the information produced; (3) conserving, preserving, and digitizing library materials, prioritizing coordination, better storage and future use, staff training, avoiding duplication, and researcher access beyond the participating institution; (4) improving libraries’ ability to serve communities affected by emergencies or disasters through (A) national, regional, Statewide, or local plans addressing communication and coordination of information and services and preserving knowledge and collections, and (B) implementing those plans or otherwise providing chapter-consistent services; and (5) model cooperative library-museum programs. (b)(1) The Director may conduct these activities through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other assistance with libraries, library consortia and associations, higher-education institutions, museums, and other suitable entities. (2) These awards must be competitive. (c) The Director must make every effort to ensure assisted activities (1) are administered by appropriate library or museum professionals or experts, (2) serve different library types and geographically varied areas, (3) include evaluation, analysis, and dissemination, and (4) as practicable directly involve, affect, or later apply in libraries.