EXTRA-LIBRARY INFORMATION PROGRAMS IN SELECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES By 0.B. Conaway, Jr. With the advice of a panel Allen V. Astin Paul Howard Charles A. Mosher Report of the National Academy of Public Administration to The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and The Federal Library Committee, Task Force on the Role of Libraries and Information Systems Desctor's Office 5-2-72 934811-138 SUMMARY A major purpose of the National Academy of Public Administration is to advance the science, processes, and art of public administration. One phase of its activities is the use of an expert, under the general guidance of a panel of skilled public administrators, to examine a specific type of administrative development, in search of improvements applicable to the particular area or capable of transfer to other areas. The present volume was prepared in that fashion. The Academy was requested to make a study of Extra-Library Information Programs in Selected Federal Agencies by the Task Force on the Role of Libraries and Information Systems of the Federal Library Committee. Financial support was provided by the Council on Library Resources and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Academy selected Dr. 0.B. Conaway, Jr., Benedum Professor of American Government and Administration and Director of the Bureau for Government Research, West Virginia University, as director of the study. He was assisted by a Panel appointed by the Chairman of the Academy, the members of which are identified on pages 3 and 4 of the study. The Academy wishes to express its appreciation to these persons for their assistance as well as to numerous others who gave generously of their knowledge and time, and without whose assistance the study could not have been completed. These include the chairman and the members of the Federal Library Committee, the chairman and members of the Federal Library Committee's Task Force on the Role of Libraries and Information Systems, members of the staff of the Army Office of Research, directors and staff members of the extra-library information programs studied, librarians and other officials of the agencies in which studies were made, and others with special knowledge of the development of the information programs of the national government. The investigation upon which the summary report and the case studies are based, the organization of the material, and the formulation of the findings have been the responsibility of the author, O.B. Conaway, Jr. He has been guided by the panel at all stages, and they have reviewed his findings and recommendations, discussing them with him and with each other at length. The report as it stands reflects their judgment as well as the author's on all points (except as other views of individual panelists are made clear in the text) although Dr. Conaway is the sole author. The individual case studies have also been cleared with the agencies concerned for accuracy of the material presented. The National Academy of Public Administration selected the authorinvestigator, constituted the panel, and provided the organization and supporting assistance for the project. It has attempted to provide a dispassionate analysis and expert panel judgment on the questions put to The report has not been presented to the full membership of the Academy, however, nor has it been considered by Academy members beyond those who are on the panel. it. George A. Graham Executive Director Public Administration CONTENTS I. II. VI. Table 1-3. NASA, Division of Scientific and Technical Information, Staff Positions and Professional Staff, National Standard Reference Data System, National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Table II-1. Organization Chart, Office Table II-2. Office of Associate Director of Information Programs Table II-3. U.S. Dept. Commerce, NBS National Clearinghouse for Mental Health Information, Office of Communications, NIMH Table III-1. National Institute of Mental Table III-2. Office of Communications Table III-3. Positions in National Clearinghouse for Mental Health Pesticides Information Center, National Agricultural Library (NAL), U.S.D.A. Table IV-1. U.S.Dept. Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Table IV-2. Functional Organization, NAL Redstone Scientific Information Center, U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal Table V-1. Research and Engineering Table V-2. Redstone Scientific Information Plastics Technical Evaluation Center, Picatinny Arsenal, U.S. Dept. of Army Table VI-1. Dept. of Defense, Plastics Technical Evaluation Center, "PLAS TEC" Table VI-2. Feltman Research Laboratories Table VI-3. Scientific and Technical Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System |