On February 1, President Obama transmitted to Congress a fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request of $265.8 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The president’s request is the same as the FY 2010 enacted levels for the Institute’s programs and administration.

The President requested $213.5 million for the nation’s 123,000 libraries. Of that amount, approximately 80 percent ($172.5 million) is distributed through the Grants to States program to the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and freely associated states, according to a population-based formula.

The President requested $35.2 million for programs that support over 17,500 museums nationwide. Museums for America, the Institute’s largest grant program for museums, would receive $19.1 million.

The Library of Congress would receive a $22 million increase for salaries and expenses in FY 11, up to a level of $461 million.