Forest Preserve District of Cook County - File #: 25-0258

• File #: 25-0258
• Version: 1
• Name: DECLARING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY’S SUPPORT OF THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES AND BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 6/9/2025
• In control: Zoological Committee
• On agenda: 6/10/2025
• Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION DECLARING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY'S SUPPORT OF THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES AND BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO WHEREAS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was established by the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) on September 30, 1996; and WHEREAS, as a federal agency that administers discretionary programs, IMLS is funded through the annual federal appropriations process; and WHEREAS, with its budget, IMLS supports a vast range of museums, including art, history, natural history, nature centers, botanical gardens, and zoos; and WHEREAS, IMLS provides essential funding and guidance for the vast collections of museums across America, acting as community anchors, supporting youth and senior citizens, serving people with disabilities, and helping veterans heal; and WHEREAS, beyond education, museums, zoos, aquariums, and libraries are economic engines, providing jobs, driving tourism, and serving as community co...
• Sponsors: KEVIN B. MORRISON, FRANK J. AGUILAR, ALMA E. ANAYA, SCOTT R. BRITTON, JOHN P. DALEY, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BILL LOWRY, DONNA MILLER, TARA S. STAMPS, MAGGIE TREVOR, JESSICA VÁSQUEZ

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/10/2025	1	FPD Board of Commissioners	refer	Pass

title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

DECLARING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY'S SUPPORT OF THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES AND BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO

WHEREAS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was established by the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) on September 30, 1996; and

WHEREAS, as a federal agency that administers discretionary programs, IMLS is funded through the annual federal appropriations process; and

WHEREAS, with its budget, IMLS supports a vast range of museums, including art, history, natural history, nature centers, botanical gardens, and zoos; and

WHEREAS, IMLS provides essential funding and guidance for the vast collections of museums across America, acting as community anchors, supporting youth and senior citizens, serving people with disabilities, and helping veterans heal; and

WHEREAS, beyond education, museums, zoos, aquariums, and libraries are economic engines, providing jobs, driving tourism, and serving as community cornerstones; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, IMLS awarded $11,347,695 in grants to Illinois institutions, with $3,214,842 awarded specifically for museum services; and

WHEREAS, we in Illinois have seen the great benefit this IMLS funding has on our local community as it has supported groundbreaking programs at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, including local community engagement initiatives, profound international research studies, and internal accessibility endeavors; and

WHEREAS, more than 180 million people visit United States zoos and aquariums each year, contributing more than $22.5 billion to the American economy, with Brookfield Zoo Chicago welcoming 2 million of those visitors annually; and

WHEREAS, for decades, IMLS has played a critical role in advancing the capabilities of zoos and aquariums by funding foundational research on their importance to conservation, supporting the creation of a nationwide network of early childhood nature play programs, and enabling groundbreakin...