2017 US Code
Title 20 - Education
Chapter 72 - Museum and Library Services
Subchapter III - Museum Services
Sec. 9171 - Purpose

(1) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their public service role of connecting the whole of society to the cultural, artistic, historical, natural, and scientific understandings that constitute our heritage;

(2) to encourage and support museums in carrying out their educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with schools, families, and communities;

(3) to encourage leadership, innovation, and applications of the most current technologies and practices to enhance museum services through international, national, regional, State, and local networks and partnerships;

(4) to assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying out their stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest standards in conservation and care of the cultural, historic, natural, and scientific heritage of the United States to benefit future generations;

(5) to assist, encourage, and support museums in achieving the highest standards of management and service to the public, and to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public;

(6) to support resource sharing and partnerships among museums, libraries, schools, and other community organizations;

(7) to encourage and support museums as a part of economic development and revitalization in communities;

(8) to ensure museums of various types and sizes in diverse geographic regions of the United States are afforded attention and support; and

(9) to support efforts at the State level to leverage museum resources and maximize museum services.

"(1) to encourage and assist museums in their educational 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 methods and facilities so that the museums are better able to conserve the cultural, historic, and scientific heritage of the United States; and

"(3) to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public."