Museum and Library Services Act of 2003
Public Law 108-81 · H.R. 13 · 108th Congress · began in the House
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Sep 25, 2003 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI-2)
Cosponsors (126): Rep. John Boehner, Rep. Michael Castle,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 - Amends the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA), including its subchapter B, the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and its subchapter C, the newly-titled Museum Services Act (MSA), to extend the authorization of appropriations and revise programs.
Title I: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Revises MLSA subchapter A general provisions to set forth definitions of "obscene" and "determined to be obscene."
(Sec. 102) Replaces the National Museum Services Board with a National Museum and Library Services Board, established in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
(Sec. 103) Requires the IMLS Director to: (1) ensure coordination with certain activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and other Federal activities; and (2) establish procedures for reviewing and evaluating applications to receive financial assistance under MLSA.
Prohibits use of funds under MLSA (including LSTA and MSA) for projects determined to be obscene. Sets forth procedures for treatment of such projects.
(Sec. 104) Provides for Board establishment and membership. Directs the President, with Senate advice and consent, to appoint U.S. citizens as voting members of the Board as follows: (1) ten from among individuals who are specially qualified by education, training, or experience in library services, or their commitment to libraries, with five of these being professional library or information specialists, at least one knowledgeable about electronic information and one about information needs of underserved communities; and (2) ten who are specially qualified by education, training, or experience in museum services, or their commitment to museums, with five of these being museum professionals, some affiliated with certain types of museums. Makes the following nonvoting members of the Board: the IMLS Director, the Deputy Director for the Office of Library Services, the Deputy Director for the Office of Museum Services, and the Chairman of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
(Sec. 105) Revises requirements for annual national awards to outstanding libraries and museums that have made significant contributions in service to their communities.
Requires the IMLS Director to conduct and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services.
Prohibits use of funds under MLSA (including LSTA and MSA) for construction expenses.
Title II: Library Services and Technology - (Sec. 203) Extends the authorization of appropriations for library services and technology through FY 2009. Increases the percentage of such funds which may be used for Federal administrative costs.
(Sec. 204) Increases the alternative minimum allotment to States under certain conditions.
(Sec. 206) Revises required uses of grants to States to include: (1) expanding services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages; (2) developing library services that provide all users access to information through local, State, regional, national, and international electronic networks; (3) developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations; and (4) targeting library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills.
(Sec. 207) Allows national leadership grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to be used for recruitment, as well as education and training, of library and information science personnel.
Title III: Museum Services - Museum Services Act - Renames and revises museum services provisions under MLSA subchapter C as the Museum Services Act.
(Sec. 302) Defines "museum" to include aquariums, arboretums, botanical gardens, art museums, children's museums, general museums, historic houses and sites, history museums, nature centers, natural history and anthropology museums, planetariums, science and technology centers, specialized museums, and zoological parks.
(Sec. 303) Revises the types of museum services activities which may be supported under MSA to include: (1) providing learning 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) building learning partnerships with schools and developing museum resources and programs in support of State and local school curricula; (3) assessing, conserving, researching, maintaining, and exhibiting collections, and providing educational programs to the public through the use of collections; (4) greater collaboration among museums, libraries, schools, and other community organizations in order to share resources and strengthen communities; (5) use of new technologies and broadcast media to enhance access to museum collections, programs, and services; (6) services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds and to individuals with disabilities; (7) professional development and technical assistance programs; and (8) research, program evaluation, and the collection and dissemination of information to museum professionals and the public.
(Sec. 304) Repeals provisions for a National Award for Museum Service (replaced by national awards for museum service and for library service).
(Sec. 305) Extends the authorization of appropriations for museum services through FY 2009.
(Sec. 306) Provides that subchapter C of MLSA shall be called the Museum Services Act.
Title IV: National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act - (Sec. 401) Amends the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act with respect to contributions and membership.
Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - (Sec. 501) Amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to increase maximum limits on liability amounts.
(Sec. 502) Renames the Capital Children's Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Children's Museum.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.
S. 888Procedurally-relatedRelated bill
Museum and Library Services Act of 2003
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 29 actions.
- Sep 25, 2003Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 108-81.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Sep 22, 2003FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Sep 16, 2003Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Hoekstra moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 13
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Sep 3, 2003FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Aug 1, 2003FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S.888 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S.888 amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Mar 10, 2003CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Mar 6, 2003FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 416 - 2 (Roll no. 47).House roll call 47
- FloorFloor · The previous question was ordered pursuant to a previous order of the House.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H.R. 13.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 13.
- FloorFloor · Considered by previous order of the House.
- FloorFloor · Consideration initiated by previous order of the House.
- Mar 4, 2003FloorFloor · Mr. Dreier asked unanimous consent That it be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order on Thursday, March 6, 2003, to consider in the House H.R. 13; that the bill be considered as read for amendment; be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled…
- Feb 25, 2003CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 10.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 108-16.
- Feb 13, 2003CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Jan 7, 2003CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
- CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E11)
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.