IMLS Releases FY 2020 Annual Financial Report
Federal Response to COVID-19 Included $45 Million for Museum and Library Services

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that the agency’s Annual Financial Report (AFR) is now available for FY 2020. The report details the health of the agency’s finances from October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020, as required by the Office of Management and Budget.

“IMLS funding is an important part of helping museums and libraries support and connect with their communities. We are also charged with supporting the information needs of American citizens, and in 2020, this was more vital than ever,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS grants support broadband access programs, preserve community history, and develop community partnerships that support people of all ages, skills, and backgrounds. In this year’s Annual Financial Report, I am pleased to share how the agency’s funding has been so critical not only to the institutions we support but also to the communities who rely on them.”

The AFR highlights key financial impacts of the agency’s grant programs for FY 2020. Highlights from the report include:

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IMLS awarded $30 million in CARES Act funds to each of the 59 State Library Administrative Agencies in America. The agency also awarded $15 million in IMLS CARES Act Grants to museums, libraries, Native American tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to respond to the health emergency.

•  IMLS staff also helped museums and libraries navigate the challenges of COVID-19 by adopting grant flexibilities to assist both applicants and those with open awards.

• The agency raised $2 million to carry out the REALM (REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums) project in partnership with OCLC and Battelle, made possible in part with support from the Library of Congress, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

• The African American History and Culture grant program received a record increase in the number of FY 2020 applications, with 36 percent of the awarded grants going to HBCUs.

For more information about IMLS’s financial activities in FY 2020, the full report is available on the IMLS website. The agency’s detailed performance report will be available in February 2021.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.