by alternative, if less efficient, means? Can a large network be adapted to user needs or would users have to adapt to it? Do the known needs warrant the unknown cost? The role of regional networks within the Commission's proposed National Program received much attention, since the draft suggested that Federal monies be disbursed to state agencies for local administration. Some witnesses pointed to the strengths of on-going regional organizations, saying that to bypass them was to ignore an obvious component of a national network. Others stated that bypassing the state agencies would disregard tradi tional modes of national organization and political realities as well. One speaker warned that only a few of the larger libraries in a state might choose to join a regional network whereas state agency participation would benefit all. Another reminded the Commission that authorities receiving Federal funds do not have to be limited to the in strumentalities that comprise the network. Spokesmen from strong state agencies generally approved the opportunities and responsibilities accorded them in the proposed program, recognizing that they would require no dramatic changes in their modes or goals of operation. Persons from other states warned that their state's full participation in the proposed program may not be possible without special financial aid to prepare for it. While witnesses at these hearings generally approved of the basically catalytic and coordinating role of the Federal Government outlined in the proposed plan, there were several suggestions regarding administrative organization. Some suggested that the Library of Congress should broaden its bibliographic capabilities, become a library-of-last-resort for the nation and also administer the working of the national network. Others suggested establishment of a new and independent body to oversee infor mation network activities. Questions were raised about coordination of present government information services and about their relationship to private data banks and indexing services. Some solution to the problem of escalating costs of these services is necessary. Special and research librarians described their difficulties in trying to supply users with the variety of data they need when much of it must be obtained from expensive, uniquely organized, separate but uncoordinated sources. One witness recommended government support of a computer retrieval system, broadly available to both public and private organizations such that the volume of demand for its stored information . would lower the cost of each search for those organizations. Federally-sponsored depositories for little-used materials and Federal support for the interlibrary loan services of large special libraries were recommended by university and special librarians and by planners from private information industries. The second draft of the National Program, whose contents are summarized in the first section of this Annual Report, has benefited greatly from the comments, criticisms and recommendations received in the Regional Hearings. The Southwest Regional Hearing brought to the attention of the Commission a problem only barely touched upon in prior hearings: the lack of library facilities on Indian reservations. Specific needs of the Indian people for information were presented in well-documented statements, and the problems of financing services were delineated in full. The commission responded by inviting representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to a regular Commission meeting in Washington to explain the Bureau's role in providing library service and by appointing a committee of Commission members to look further into the matter. Written testimony for the two regional hearings came to the Commission in great variety and profusion. Suggestions abounded for innovative programs and plans to help citizens find the information they need. A collection of photographs of historical and cultural objects that constituted a catalog of Texas history was described. There was the testimony of a Tucson librarian whose practice was to take Indian patrons to the bookstore so they could choose books for the library. There was a letter from a librarian struggling to find material in Spanish for patrons who needed information on raising vegetables. There was a faculty report from a School of Library Science about helping Indian students devise their own curriculum including a cataloging system appropriate to the Indian culture. There was news of workers in mental hospitals carefully choosing and using audio-visual materials in creative ways. There were maps of bookmobile routes crossing the plains to isolated communities. And there were details of new ventures combining school and public libraries in a single institution. Dedicated people wrote to the Commission: -- An Oklahoma farmwife couldn't come to the hearing because it was planting season but took time from her work to tell the Commission the kinds of information her family needs. A teacher conducted street interviews so she could tell the Commission why people in her part of Louisiana don't use libraries. A vacationing woman penned ten pages about children's needs from the deck of a sailboat. - Senator Ralph Yarborough told of his continuing work to promote funds for school and public libraries in the years since he shepherded the original Library Services and Construction Act through Congress. There were other highlights: a thorough review of the information needs of geo-scientists, a preview of telecommunications a decade hence, a video-taped mini-hearing on library and information needs in New Mexico, a wise caution on the ill-effects of overusing fragile and rare materials for interlibrary loans and an erudite discussion of the exponential growth of publication and what it portends for information handlers. The grestest wealth of testimony came from librarians and trustees and information people and city and state officials who described their activites and told the Commission of their needs and their plans and their hopes for their future service now that national planning is underway. Two more hearings are planned for 1974-75; one (for the Mountain States) in Denver on September 18, 1974, and the other, the last in the current series, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Middle-Atlantic States. RELATED COMMISSION ACTIVITES From the beginning it has been expected that the members of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science would give substantial time and effort to the Commission activites. Commission members have accepted this requirement, serving on various committees or task force groups to fulfill assignments made by the Chairman. Frequently they have performed functions that would have been staff jobs in a larger organization. This individual depth of involvement has produced a cooperative working spirit that might not otherwise have evolved. In the paragraphs that follow, some of the work on the committees is reported. COPYRIGHT A Copyright Information Committee was formed in 1971. Its work-accelerating in the last two years-has been to keep generally informed on the development of new copyright legislation. With respect to the draft legislation, the Commission committee has sought an opportunity to bring together the publishers and the librarians under conditions that could produce a workable compromise of their difference. The purpose of such a meeting would be to produce a position document for the guidance of the Federal legislative committees dealing with the new bill. The Senate is expected to pass an amended version of a copyright bill (S-1361) by early fall. The sections in the amended version relating to the use of copyright materials by libraries continue to suggest difficulties that will be encountered. Of particular relevance to libraries are the sections describing limitations on exclusive rights including fair use and reproduction by libraries. The bill states that fair use determination will be based on the purpose and character of the use; the nature of the copyrighted work as a whole; the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. It goes on to affirm that rights of reproduction and distribution extend to the isolated and unrelated reproduction or distribution of a single copy of the same material on separate occasions. These rights, it says, do not include the systematic reproduction or distribution of single or multiple copies whether made on one occasion or over a period of time. Since the bill fails to specify which library photocopying practices constitute the making of single copies as distinguished from systematic reproduction, and its provisions could be interpreted to forbid many of the usual practices of research libraries in serving their clients, a letter was sent to the appropriate committees and to Senator John McClellan setting forth this viewpoint of the Commission and asking that the language be clarified. A central effort of the Commission, however, will be to seek through discussion an accommodation between the parties affected-authors, publishers, librarians, and users. LIBRARY SERVICE TO AMERICAN INDIANS The problems faced by the average citizen in gaining access to information or even to a library are miniscule compared with the same problems for American Indians on many of the reservations where they live. This situation was made abundantly clear by Indian people testifying in Santa Fe, New Mexico, San Antonio, Texas, and by others writing to the Commission offices. Library service appears to be either nonexistent or extremely inadequate, because provision for it is not a state responsibility and because no agency of the Federal Government is funded to provide such service. The need to remedy this lack of service to Indians is a special requirement demanding quick action. To determine the proper direction for such action, the Commission appointed a fact-finding committee to gather information and provide a plan. The Commission heard presentations by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Bureau of Indian Affairs on library service to Indians. The Commission-in light of the reports-asked the BIA to appoint an officer responsible for library affairs and to formulate and publish a new long-range program for library service. WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON LIBRARY The introduction of legislation requesting the President to call a White House Conference on Library and Information Services is an activity supported by the Commission. A national conference in Washington, D.C., preceded by state and regional conferences would stimulate a national discussion about the value of libraries and information resources in our society and help to define the appropriate roles of local, state and Federal governments in the support of these precious national resources. Such a discussion would be very helpful to the Commission in its planning objectives. Since the legislation gives the Commission the role of planning and conducting the Conference, the Commission was invited to testify to the Senate and House Committees regarding S. J. Resolution 40. The Commission Chairman presented the Commission's testimony asking that the resolution receive favorable consideration and action. The Senate passed the resolution on November 20, 1973. To expedite action, the bill was brought to the House floor on June 4, 1974, under a suspension of the rules, but failed by 24 votes to carry the two-thirds necessary for passage. The bill will be brought to the House again for a vote under the rules before the close of the 93rd Congress. Passage by the simple majority required is expected. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ADOPTED The Commission members voted unanimously to place two statements (see below) on the record and be |