NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ANNUAL REPORT TO 1973-1974 INTRODUCTION This is the third Annual Report of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science covering the period July 1, 1973 to June 30, 1974. It is also the first report to a new President. The Commission continued a high level of activity on a variety of fronts. It: Studied and weighed the information developed from the prior year's activities, together with new information and synthesized it into a picture of library and information service needs, adequacies and deficiencies, and requirements for action. The document embodying this picture is "A National Program for Library and Information Services." Subjected the National Program concepts to critical analysis, both from within the Commission itself and from the library and information community and the information-using public, to help ensure that the Commission's perceptions, plans and recommendations to the President and the Congress are firmly grounded in reality and reflect the best ideas that can be brought to light, within the Commission's charter and resources. Carried out a program of regional hearings and mini-hearings to solicit reactions to particular aspects of the Commission's developing program, to provide a forum for bringing current or new problems and possible solutions to the Commission's attention, and to help stimulate planning and other activities by the participants themselves. Completed an initial study of the nation's needs for library and information service and made arrangements for publication and dissemination of the findings through the Government Printing Office. Sponsored three studies by contractor organizations, in support of the National Program planning, in the areas of (1) continuing education for library and information science personnel; (2) current and future funding for public libraries; and (3) operation of future bibliographic centers and document resource centers. Carried out other studies and continued its program of communications with government agencies, professional societies, trade associations and other organizations important to the solution of the nation's library and information service problems. This report describes these activities and presents some of the major conclusions and recommendations emanating from them. |