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Question. Would this inventory project be accomplished as part of the shifting of collections to the Fort Meade storage facility? What is your estimate of the total cost of this inventory project?

Answer. The scope of this major effort is to produce a one-time retrospective inventory of all 17 million items in print collections in the general collections, Law Library collections, and Area Studies collections. The Library's Integrated Library System (ILS) provides a means for undertaking comprehensive retrospective collections inventory efficiently, and for the first time. ILS is a tool which makes it possible to inventory and barcode each volume, enter the barcode into existing ILS records, capture information on each item (e.g., preservation status), and then track each item.

Collections being transferred to the Fort Meade remote storage will first be placed under inventory control. This step is critical for item retrieval once it is stored at the facility. Inventory of the collections remaining on Capitol Hill is independent of the Fort Meade transfer. The inventory will be facilitate by a reduction in the extreme over-crowded conditions that exist currently. The eight-year, total cost of the inventory project is approximately $10 million. The fiscal $2.1 million request includes both the inventory program and security guards, which is part of the Library's physical security initiative. The inventory program is approximately $1.2 million annually.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF DIRECTOR OF CRS

Mr. TAYLOR. We have the prepared statement of the Director of CRS that will be placed in the record at this time. [The prepared statement follows:]

curve. If you need to send a team to Wall Street and find out how they do it and report back to us, please do.

General SCOTT. We will get back with you on that. We have done some work-rather than to try to explain a very complex situation in a short period of time, I would like to submit for the record what we have done and what we think we would need to establish that offsite backup capability.

[The information follows:]

COMPUTER STORAGE SECURITY

In May of this year, the Library's Information Technology Services Office formed an internal working group consisting of senior technical managers and staff to review the current state of our storage systems and to develop a plan for the secure storage of the Library's rapidly expanding databases and digital collections. The group has initiated a procurement for on-line storage and a new tape backup system which addresses our short-term needs. At this time they are developing a plan for the design and construction of a "next generation" storage facility.

The Library maintains digital data which can be separated into several categories. Some of this data is crucially important to the Congress, and it is managed in an appropriately sensitive manner. Specifically, all of the data for the Legislative Information System and Thomas is mirrored to a server and storage system in the Senate Computer Center. If at any time the primary system in the Library's Computer Operations Center is disabled and cannot quickly be restored, then the mirrored system can be brought on-line to provide service. We believe this to be a prudent design, but as the working group considers backup and recovery options, it will also review the current arrangement and recommend modifications as appropriate.

Somewhat less crucial, though still vitally important, is the Library's financial data. This data must be backed up continually so that each transaction is posted to a second set of digital books and could be accessed quickly in case of major problems with the primary database. The Library is currently posting each transaction to a separate database located in the House of Representatives. If needed, this database would be used to reload our primary database, ensuring a quick return to operations.

Another level down in the hierarchy of data are business applications such as the Library of Congress integrated Library system (LC ILS) and the American Memory content files. This data is stored on high quality on-line storage to ensure its availability twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All data is backed up on a regular schedule. At lest one copy of each backup is maintained in the Library's Computer Operations Center and is available for rapid recovery. In addition, on a weekly basis all of these tape files are copied onto additional tapes which are then shipped to the Library's John Adams Building for remote, or off-site, storage.

The current systems, processes, and procedures are in need of revision, and the working group is actively evaluating these systems and investigating new products and procedures. As part of this effort, the Library's Information Technology Services Office has proposed the design and construction of a "next generation" storage facility which would combine products from various vendors to address the Library's unique storage requirements. Additionally, they are looking at commercial, off-site vaulting services which would provide storage facilities for tape backups of all data far from the primary storage site on Capitol Hill. By the end of the fiscal year, the Library expects to have an appropriate vaulting service contract in place.

The Library's content data files are somewhat different from the majority of automated data collections. Most large database managers deal with an enormous amount of transaction data (which is generated or which supports exchange of goods, services, and the like) and contains a relatively small amount of data about each individual transaction. Very few institutions and organizations have the massive content files routinely acquired by the Library of Congress. Thus, it is not surprising that the Library considers it important to mount a special effort to evaluate its storage systems. As we commence work with other external partners as part of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, we will be looking for potential opportunities to join forces with private sector entities, vendors, and other public institutions to further the development of a massive, content

FIRE SAFETY ISSUES

Dr. BILLINGTON. Some of it is in different buildings on Capitol Hill. So it is not all in one place, but that has been primarily the problem.

Mr. WAMP. Thank you.

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Hoyer.

Mr. HOYER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to try to ask some serious questions. General Scott, regarding fire safety, the Compliance Office, has cited the Architect and the Library for deficiencies, and the House Inspector General has found additional problems on his own. What is the status of the efforts to correct the deficiencies that the Library is responsible for?

General SCOTT. Yes, sir. The Compliance Office reported about 503 deficiencies that the Library was responsible for. These deficiencies were things like doors being blocked, combustibles being improperly stored and fire doors being propped open.

Mr. HOYER. This ties directly to the concern that Mr. Wamp and the Chairman discussed in terms of destruction.

General SCOTT. Yes, sir. Once we got that report, we immediately put a full-court press on addressing all identified hazards. I am pleased to report that we have corrected 92 percent of all of the deficiencies that the Library was responsible for.

We also plan to have another intensive week before the end of this calendar year in which we will focus upon and cleaning up the rest of those deficiencies making sure that we don't rebound. Seventy-five percent of the deficiencies that the Office of Compliance report cited are under the responsibility of the AOC-about 1,700 hazards. Most of them involve the structural sprinkler systems and testing the various maintenance controls and systems.

Mr. HOYER. What is your view of the Architect's progress on those deficiencies within his responsibility?

General SCOTT. We think that the Architect is devoting a sincere effort to try to improve and fix those systems. Of the total that they are responsible for, our latest count is that they are about 48 percent completed.

Mr. HOYER. Thank you. I am going to ask the Architect about that as well.

STAFF TELECOMMUTING

Moving to a different subject, because I have a lot of questions and want to go quickly, what is the status of telecommuting? General SCOTT. Telecommuting is another employee benefit for which we are working very hard to establish a program. We do have a policy that we want, the Library wants, to offer to the employees who can benefit from it. We are working with our labor organizations right now to see if we can't come to some agreement as to how we would implement such a program. We are hopeful that we can have agreement before the end of this fiscal year so that we can start implementing functional portions of the program. Mr. HOYER. As you know, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Moran, others and I have for many years been working on this, and we are excited about it. And as long as employees can do the work, it is, I think,

curve. If you need to send a team to Wall Street and find out how they do it and report back to us, please do.

General SCOTT. We will get back with you on that. We have done some work-rather than to try to explain a very complex situation in a short period of time, I would like to submit for the record what we have done and what we think we would need to establish that offsite backup capability.

[The information follows:]

COMPUTER STORAGE SECURITY

In May of this year, the Library's Information Technology Services Office formed an internal working group consisting of senior technical managers and staff to review the current state of our storage systems and to develop a plan for the secure storage of the Library's rapidly expanding databases and digital collections. The group has initiated a procurement for on-line storage and a new tape backup system which addresses our short-term needs. At this time they are developing a plan for the design and construction of a "next generation" storage facility.

The Library maintains digital data which can be separated into several categories. Some of this data is crucially important to the Congress, and it is managed in an appropriately sensitive manner. Specifically, all of the data for the Legislative Information System and Thomas is mirrored to a server and storage system in the Senate Computer Center. If at any time the primary system in the Library's Computer Operations Center is disabled and cannot quickly be restored, then the mirrored system can be brought on-line to provide service. We believe this to be a prudent design, but as the working group considers backup and recovery options, it will also review the current arrangement and recommend modifications as appropriate.

Somewhat less crucial, though still vitally important, is the Library's financial data. This data must be backed up continually so that each transaction is posted to a second set of digital books and could be accessed quickly in case of major problems with the primary database. The Library is currently posting each transaction to a separate database located in the House of Representatives. If needed, this database would be used to reload our primary database, ensuring a quick return to operations.

Another level down in the hierarchy of data are business applications such as the Library of Congress integrated Library system (LC ILS) and the American Memory content files. This data is stored on high quality on-line storage to ensure its availability twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All data is backed up on a regular schedule. At lest one copy of each backup is maintained in the Library's Computer Operations Center and is available for rapid recovery. In addition, on a weekly basis all of these tape files are copied onto additional tapes which are then shipped to the Library's John Adams Building for remote, or off-site, storage.

The current systems, processes, and procedures are in need of revision, and the working group is actively evaluating these systems and investigating new products and procedures. As part of this effort, the Library's Information Technology Services Office has proposed the design and construction of a "next generation" storage facility which would combine products from various vendors to address the Library's unique storage requirements. Additionally, they are looking at commercial, off-site vaulting services which would provide storage facilities for tape backups of all data far from the primary storage site on Capitol Hill. By the end of the fiscal year, the Library expects to have an appropriate vaulting service contract in place.

The Library's content data files are somewhat different from the majority of automated data collections. Most large database managers deal with an enormous amount of transaction data (which is generated or which supports exchange of goods, services, and the like) and contains a relatively small amount of data about each individual transaction. Very few institutions and organizations have the massive content files routinely acquired by the Library of Congress. Thus, it is not surprising that the Library considers it important to mount a special effort to evaluate its storage systems. As we commence work with other external partners as part of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, we will be looking for potential opportunities to join forces with private sector entities, vendors, and other public institutions to further the development of a massive, content

FIRE SAFETY ISSUES

Dr. BILLINGTON. Some of it is in different buildings on Capitol Hill. So it is not all in one place, but that has been primarily the problem.

Mr. WAMP. Thank you.

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Hoyer.

Mr. HOYER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to try to ask some serious questions. General Scott, regarding fire safety, the Compliance Office, has cited the Architect and the Library for deficiencies, and the House Inspector General has found additional problems on his own. What is the status of the efforts to correct the deficiencies that the Library is responsible for?

General SCOTT. Yes, sir. The Compliance Office reported about 503 deficiencies that the Library was responsible for. These deficiencies were things like doors being blocked, combustibles being improperly stored and fire doors being propped open.

Mr. HOYER. This ties directly to the concern that Mr. Wamp and the Chairman discussed in terms of destruction.

General SCOTT. Yes, sir. Once we got that report, we immediately put a full-court press on addressing all identified hazards. I am pleased to report that we have corrected 92 percent of all of the deficiencies that the Library was responsible for.

We also plan to have another intensive week before the end of this calendar year in which we will focus upon and cleaning up the rest of those deficiencies making sure that we don't rebound. Seventy-five percent of the deficiencies that the Office of Compliance report cited are under the responsibility of the AOC-about 1,700 hazards. Most of them involve the structural sprinkler systems and testing the various maintenance controls and systems.

Mr. HOYER. What is your view of the Architect's progress on those deficiencies within his responsibility?

General SCOTT. We think that the Architect is devoting a sincere effort to try to improve and fix those systems. Of the total that they are responsible for, our latest count is that they are about 48 percent completed.

Mr. HOYER. Thank you. I am going to ask the Architect about that as well.

STAFF TELECOMMUTING

Moving to a different subject, because I have a lot of questions and want to go quickly, what is the status of telecommuting? General SCOTT. Telecommuting is another employee benefit for which we are working very hard to establish a program. We do have a policy that we want, the Library wants, to offer to the employees who can benefit from it. We are working with our labor organizations right now to see if we can't come to some agreement as to how we would implement such a program. We are hopeful that we can have agreement before the end of this fiscal year so that we can start implementing functional portions of the program. Mr. HOYER. As you know, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Moran, others and I have for many years been working on this, and we are excited about it. And as long as employees can do the work, it is, I think,

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