---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 6304"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "6304"
heading: "National Transportation Library"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/6304"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — General and Intermodal Programs"
  - "Chapter 63 — Bureau of Transportation Statistics"
---

# §6304. National Transportation Library

- (a) **Purpose and Establishment.—** To support the information management and decisionmaking needs of transportation officials at the Federal, [State](/usc/49/5102.md?p=12), and local levels, there is established in the [Bureau](/usc/49/6301.md?p=1) a National Transportation [Library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) which shall—
  - (1) be headed by an individual who is highly qualified in [library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) and information science;
  - (2) acquire, preserve, and manage transportation information and information products and services for use by the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2), other Federal agencies, and the general public;
  - (3) provide reference and research assistance;
  - (4) serve as a central depository for research results and technical publications of the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2);
  - (5) provide a central clearinghouse for transportation data and information of the Federal Government;
  - (6) serve as coordinator and policy lead for transportation information access;
  - (7) provide transportation information and information products and services to—
    - (A) the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2);
    - (B) other Federal agencies;
    - (C) public and private organizations; and
    - (D) individuals, within the [United States](/usc/49/5102.md?p=14) and internationally;
  - (8) coordinate efforts among, and cooperate with, transportation [libraries](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4), information providers, and technical assistance centers, in conjunction with private industry and other transportation [library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) and information centers, with the goal of developing a comprehensive transportation information and knowledge network that supports the activities described in [section 6302(b)(3)(B)(vi)](/usc/49/6302.md?p=b-3-B-vi); and
  - (9) engage in such other activities as the [Director](/usc/49/6301.md?p=3) determines to be necessary and as the resources of the [Library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) permit.
- (b) **Access.—** The [Director](/usc/49/6301.md?p=3) shall publicize, facilitate, and promote access to the information products and services described in [subsection (a)](#a), to improve the ability of the transportation community to share information and the ability of the [Director](/usc/49/6301.md?p=3) to make statistics and other information readily accessible as required under [section 6302(b)(3)(B)(x)](/usc/49/6302.md?p=b-3-B-x).
- (c) **Agreements.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** To carry out this section, the [Director](/usc/49/6301.md?p=3) may enter into agreements with, award grants to, and receive amounts from, any—
    - (A) [State](/usc/49/5102.md?p=12) or local government;
    - (B) organization;
    - (C) business; or
    - (D) individual.
  - (2) **Contracts, grants, and agreements.—** The [Library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) may initiate and support specific information and data management, access, and exchange activities in connection with matters relating to the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2)’s strategic goals, knowledge networking, and national and international cooperation, by entering into contracts or other agreements or awarding grants for the conduct of such activities.
  - (3) **Amounts.—** Any amounts received by the [Library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) as payment for [library](/usc/49/6301.md?p=4) products and services or other activities shall be made available to the [Director](/usc/49/6301.md?p=3) to carry out this section, deposited in the Office of the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) for Research and Technology of the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2) of Transportation’s general fund account, and remain available until expended.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–141, div. E, title II, § 52011(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 890; amended Pub. L. 113–76, div. L, title I, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 574.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology of the Department of Transportation’s” substituted for “Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s” in subsec. (c)(3) on authority of title I of div. L of Pub. L. 113–76, set out in part as a Transfer of Duties and Powers note under former section 112 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways.