# Federal Register #2026-20654

IMLS Seeks Comments on Planned Local History Grant Program

**Buyer:** Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
**Posted:** October 08, 2026
**Respond By:** December 08, 2026
**Identifier:** 2026-20654

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is seeking public comments on information collection for a planned local-history grant program; this is not a procurement solicitation.
- **Government agencies:** Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), within the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; IMLS Office of Museum Services. The notice also includes a National Science Foundation announcement concerning an Antarctic permit application for ongoing emperor-penguin research.
- **Planned IMLS program:** A three-year Grants for Local History initiative funded through the Museums for America program, intended for eligible small history museums, historical societies, and historic houses or sites.
- **Potential grant activities:** Interpreting local history and community stories, and conserving or improving stewardship of related collections. Examples include oral histories, genealogical research, lectures, publications, living-history demonstrations, special events, conservation, and collection rehousing.
- **Information-collection estimate:** 100 respondents annually, one response per request, and 25 hours per response, for an estimated 2,500 annual burden hours.
- **Procurement details:** No OEMs, vendors, purchased products, quantities, or contract value are identified.

### Description

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection for a new IMLS Grants for Local History program. The proposed grant program is intended to support small history museums, small historical societies, and small historic houses/sites in preserving and celebrating America’s history and values, with an emphasis on local community stories. The collection will support a Notice of Funding Opportunity planned for three years as a special initiative funded through the Museums for America program. Written comments are due December 8, 2026.

[View original listing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20654/notice-of-proposed-information-collection-requests-imls-grants-for-local-history-notice-of-funding)