This report provides background--including information on structure, funding levels, program evaluation and issues--on federal programs which provide financial or material assistance to public, school, and college libraries. Federal library grant programs are covered in the following categories: (1) aid to public libraries under the Library Services and Construction Act; (2) aid to college libraries under the Higher Education Act; (3) aid to elementary and secondary school library under Chapter 2 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act; and (4) grants to libraries by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Also covered are the activities of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, past and proposed White House Conferences on Libraries and Information Services, the assistance to libraries provided by the Library of Congress, and other federal activities affecting libraries. The appendix provides summary information on fiscal years 1987 and 1988 funding for selected library assistance programs. (MES)