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CONCLUSION

The Commission has begun its work. The members and staff have organized for action and together have examined their charge with care. Important contacts have been made with other organizations, and the door is open for continued liaison. A philosophy, embracing the idea that Commission plans will be oriented toward the information user, has been enunciated. Studies are underway in several high priority areas. Data from research done for others is receiving careful review. Resolutions have been issued to express the Commission's concern for current prob. lems. Plans are in readiness for a second year of activity.

In 1973 the Commission expects to define and delineate its selected priorities with care and continue the gathering of data and ideas needed for planning.

Regional hearings will provide specific knowledge on current adequacies and deficiencies of libraries and information systems. The hearings will also give the Commission useful insights into the perception of information needs in the Midwest, Far West, and Southeast. These hearings are expected to uncover some thought-provoking ideas for meeting the needs expressed.

Contract studies begun in 1972 will be continued and, in some cases, concluded or extended in new directions. At least two of the studies now in progress are considered exploratory in nature. If the early results are useful, comprehensive studies will begin on users' information needs and the funding of public

libraries. New studies will start in the other priority areas if funds are available.

Full funding is a serious problem for the Commission. The amount appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 1973 is just over $400,000 and this amount may be further revised down. ward before it receives Presidential approval. To fulfill its charge, the Commission requires the full support of the President, Congress and the library and information science community. If this support is forthcoming, the Commission expects that its mission can be carried forward with benefit to information users, to libraries and information systems, and to governments at all levels.

NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES
AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

APPENDIX I

The Act

Public Law 91-345 91st Congress, S. 1519 July 20, 1970

An Act

To establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may National be cited as the "National Commission on Libraries and Information Commission on Science Act".

STATEMENT OF POLICY

SEC. 2. The Congress hereby affirms that library and information services adequate to meet the needs of the people of the United States are essential to achieve national goals and to utilize most effectively the Nation's educational resources and that the Federal Government will cooperate with State and local governments and public and private agencies in assuring optimum provision of such services.

COMMISSION ESTABLISHED

SEC. 3. (a) There is hereby established as an independent agency within the executive branch, a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission").

(b) The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare shall provide the Commission with necessary administrative services (including those related to budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, personnel, and procurement) for which payment shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, from funds of the Commission and such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Commission and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

CONTRIBUTIONS

SEC. 4. The Commission shall have authority to accept in the name of the United States grants, gifts, or bequests of money for immediate disbursement in furtherance of the functions of the Commission. Such grants, gifts, or bequests, after acceptance by the Commission, shall be paid by the donor or his representative to the Treasurer of the United States whose receipts shall be their acquittance. The Treasurer of the United States shall enter them in a special account to the credit of the Commission for the purposes in each case specified.

FUNCTIONS

SEC. 5. (a) The Commission shall have the primary responsibility for developing or recommending overall plans for, and advising the appropriate governments and agencies on, the policy set forth in section 2. In carrying out that responsibility, the Commission shall—

(1) advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of national policy by such statements, presentations, and reports as it deems appropriate;

Libraries and
Information
Soience Act.

84 STAT, 440 84 STAT. 441

Advice to
President and
Congress.

(2) conduct studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and Studies, surveys, informational needs of the Nation, including the special library etɔ. and informational needs of rural areas and of economically, socially, or culturally deprived persons, and the means by which these needs may be met through information centers, through the libraries of elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education, and through public, research, special, and other types of libraries;

Report to
President and
Congress.

Contract authority.

Hearings.

84 STAT. 441 84 STAT, 442 Appointments by President.

Terms of office.

Compensation, travel expenses.

Pub. Law 91-345

- 2

July 20, 1970

(3) appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information resources and services and evaluate the effectiveness of current library and information science programs;

(4) develop overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs and for the coordination of activities at the Federal, State, and local levels, taking into consideration all of the library and informational resources of the Nation to meet those needs;

(5) be authorized to advise Federal, State, local, and private agencies regarding library and information sciences;

(6) promote research and development activities which will extend and improve the Nation's library and informationhandling capability as essential links in the national communications networks;

(7) submit to the President and the Congress (not later than January 31 of each year) a report on its activities during the preceding fiscal year; and

(8) make and publish such additional reports as it deems to be necessary, including, but not limited to, reports of consultants, transcripts of testimony, summary reports, and reports of other Commission findings, studies, and recommendations.

(b) The Commission is authorized to contract with Federal agencies and other public and private agencies to carry out any of its functions under subsection (a) and to publish and disseminate such reports, findings, studies, and records as it deems appropriate.

(c) The Commission is further authorized to conduct such hearings at such times and places as it deems appropriate for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(d) The heads of all Federal agencies are, to the extent not prohibited by law, directed to cooperate with the Commission in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

MEMBERSHIP

SEC. 6. (a) The Commission shall be composed of the Librarian of Congress and fourteen members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Five members of the Commission shall be professional librarians or information specialists, and the remainder shall be persons having special competence or interest in the needs of our society for library and information services, at least one of whom shall be knowledgeable with respect to the technological aspects of library and information services and sciences. One of the members of the Commission shall be designated by the President as Chairman of the Commission. The terms of office of the appointive members of the Commission shall be five years, except that (1) the terms of office of the members first appointed shall commence on the date of enactment of this Act and shall expire two at the end of one year, three at the end of two years, three at the end of three years, three at the end of four years, and three at the end of five years, as designated by the President at the time of appointment, and (2) a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.

(b) Members of the Commission who are not in the regular full-time employ of the United States shall, while attending meetings or conferences of the Commission or otherwise engaged in the business of the Commission, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the Chairman, but not exceeding the rate specified at the time of such

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