---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 2104"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "2104"
heading: "Functions of Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/2104"
units:
  - "Chapter 43 — American Folklife Preservation"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §2104. Functions of Center

- (a) **Contracts; national archive and center for American folklife; loan of items in archive; procurement, display, etc., of items in archive; miscellaneous programs—** The [Librarian](/usc/20/2102.md?p=5) is authorized to—
  - (1) enter into, in conformity with Federal procurement statutes and regulations, contracts with individuals and [groups](/usc/20/2102.md?p=4) for programs for the—
    - (A) initiation, encouragement, support, organization, and promotion of research, scholarship, and training in [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1);
    - (B) initiation, promotion, support, organization, and production of live performances, festivals, exhibits, and [workshops](/usc/20/2102.md?p=7) related to [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1);
    - (C) purchase, receipt, production, arrangement for, and support of the production of exhibitions, displays, publications, and presentations (including presentations by still and motion picture films, and audio and visual magnetic tape recordings) which represent or illustrate some aspect of [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1); and
    - (D) purchase, production, arrangement for, and support of the production of exhibitions, projects, presentations, and materials specially designed for classroom use representing or illustrating some aspect of [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1);
  - (2) establish and maintain in conjunction with any Federal [department](/usc/20/1221.md?p=c-3), agency, or institution a national archive and [center](/usc/20/2102.md?p=3) for [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1);
  - (3) procure, receive, purchase, and collect for preservation or retention in an appropriate archive creative works, exhibitions, presentations, objects, materials, artifacts, manuscripts, publications, and audio and visual records (including still and motion picture film records, audio and visual magnetic tape recordings, written records, and manuscripts) which represent or illustrate some aspect of [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1);
  - (4) loan, or otherwise make available, through Library of Congress procedures, any item in the archive established under this subchapter to any individual or [group](/usc/20/2102.md?p=4);
  - (5) present, display, exhibit, disseminate, communicate, and broadcast to local, regional, [State](/usc/20/2102.md?p=6), or National audiences any exhibition, display, or presentation referred to in clause (3) of this section or any item in the archive established pursuant to clause (2) of this section, by making appropriate arrangements, including contracts with public, nonprofit, and private radio and television broadcasters, museums, educational institutions, and such other individuals and organizations, including corporations, as the [Board](/usc/20/2102.md?p=2) deems appropriate;
  - (6) loan, lease, or otherwise make available to public, private, and nonprofit educational institutions, and [State](/usc/20/2102.md?p=6) arts councils established pursuant to the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 951](/usc/20/951.md) et seq.], such exhibitions, programs, presentations, and material developed pursuant to clause (1)(D) of this subsection as the [Board](/usc/20/2102.md?p=2) deems appropriate; and
  - (7) develop and implement other appropriate programs to preserve, support, revitalize, and disseminate [American folklife](/usc/20/2102.md?p=1).
- (b) **Functions carried out through Center—** The [Librarian](/usc/20/2102.md?p=5) shall carry out his functions under this subchapter through the [Center](/usc/20/2102.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–201, § 5, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1131.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), is Pub. L. 89–209, Sept. 29, 1965, 79 Stat. 845, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 951 et seq.) of chapter 26 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 951 of this title and Tables.