It is a great honor to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the US Senate to serve as the fourth director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). I know that my four year term at IMLS will be both demanding and exhilarating. We are all facing difficult questions about how best to use limited resources. Our country has a great asset in its libraries and museums. Their infrastructure reaches nearly every community in the US, with expert staff, great content, technology and physical spaces, and most importantly deep knowledge about community needs. Libraries and museums are hubs for civic ingenuity and part of the solution to many of our most important community challenges.

I want to make sure that as a nation we use the power of libraries and museum to enrich the lives of our citizens. Each day, millions of Americans use library resources to find jobs, access government services, learn more about their health, and help their children learn to read. Each day, Americans connect with the fabric of their communities through art and history museums, zoos, aquariums and science centers. Libraries and museums provide nourishment and energy to the life of the mind. Keeping our minds alive and healthy is the most important step we can take to ensure a civil society.

I hope that you will be in touch with me in the weeks, months and years ahead and that, together, we can use federal funding wisely to leverage the tremendous capacity of libraries and museums to meet 21st century learning needs.

—Susan H. Hildreth, Director, IMLS
 

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Natasha Marstiller, nmarstiller@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
 

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 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.