Museum, library reauthorization backed by Collins is signed

BANGOR, Maine – A bill to boost federal support for libraries and museums that was introduced by Maine’s Republican senator has been signed into law.

Sen. Susan Collins was part of a bipartisan group that introduced the Museum and Library Services Act, which renews $240 million to the federal museum and library programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The new law is also designed to assist libraries and museums with improving technology. Collins says the reauthorization will strengthen the use of data to measure the effectiveness of services provided by the institutions.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal agency that supports programs at tens of thousands of libraries and museums around the country.