Clinton Budget Proposes
National Digital Library
President Clinton's budget proposal for fiscal year 2000, released February 1, includes a new $30-million initiative to develop a National Digital Library for Education. The online library, part of the president's Technology Initiative, would include digital images of books, museum artifacts, and paintings.
Diane Frankel, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, noted that “Libraries are on the forefront of using new technology to get people the information they want and need. For museums, this is the first federal program specifically designed to make their collections accessible online.”
The budget sets Library Services and Technology Act funding under the IMLS at $154.5 million, slightly higher than last year's request, with library grants to states at $138.1 million, Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services at $2.6 million, and National Leadership Grants for Libraries at $10.6 million.
Other education proposals in the president's budget are detailed on the ALA Washington Office Web site.
Posted February 8, 1999.
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