The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal agency that fosters leadership, innovation and a lifetime of learning. IMLS supports all types of museums, from art and history to science and zoos, and all types of libraries and archives, from public and academic to research and school. IMLS expands the educational benefit of these institutions by encouraging partnerships.

IMLS is an independent Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. Created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208, IMLS administers the Library Services and Technology Act and the Museum Services Act. In 2003, Congress reauthorized the Museum and Library Services Act, P.L. 108-81, reaffirming the vital role that museums and libraries play in our communities. The Institute receives policy advice from the Presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed National Museum and Library Services Board.

For more information about IMLS, see their website: http://www.imls.gov

The purpose of the Tocker Foundation is to distribute funds principally for the support, encouragement, and assistance to small rural libraries in Texas.

Our current emphasis is to assist in extending public library services to areas without service or with inadequate service. We wish to make library services accessible to individuals who, by reason of distance, residence, handicap, age, literacy level or other disadvantage, are unable to receive the benefits of public library services. In addition, Tocker strives to meet the particular needs of the individuals within the communities, including those with limited English speaking abilities. We assist libraries that serve as community information referral centers and those that provide literacy programs for adults and school dropouts in cooperation with other organizations. We also work with those libraries that wish to extend access through the effective use of technology.

For more information about the Tocker Foundation, see their website: http://www.tocker.org

The extraordinary growth of information and information technology during the past two decades contains enormous promise for social and individual good. But it has also caused great perplexity, overwhelming some people with data while denying others access. One thing is certain: the information realities of today's citizens and organizations at all levels of society have changed in ways that are dramatic and irrevocable; only serious investigation of these new information realities and extraordinary education regarding them will enable us to shape them in a positive way.

Our Mission

The mission of The University of Texas at Austin School of Information is to shape information realities for human and social benefit by:

• Discovering new and vital knowledge about information through research
• Educating the next generation of information researchers, scholars and practitioners
• Fostering leaders at the top echelons of national and local information organizations and agencies
• Facilitating information literacy among the UT student community
• Providing continuing education and expert advice on information issues through collaborative relationships

For more information about the School of Information, see their website: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu

American Indian Library Association

The American Indian Library Association is a membership action group that addresses the library-related needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Members are individuals and institutions interested in the development of programs to improve Indian library, cultural, and informational services in school, public, and research libraries on reservations. AILA is also committed to disseminating information about Indian cultures, languages, values, and information needs to the library community. AILA cosponsors an annual conference and holds a yearly business meeting in conjunction with the American Library Association annual meeting. It publishes the American Indian Libraries Newsletter, which appears in four issues per year.

AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. At the time, there was increasing awareness that library services for Native Americans were inadequate. Individuals as well as the government began to organize to remedy the situation.

For more information about the American Indian Library Association, see their website: http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/aila.html