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The Library plans to continue a hiring freeze, with limited exceptions, during fiscal 1993 in order to function within the reduced funding levels and to downsize its staff. Following the precedent already taken for twelve other reading rooms, we plan to reduce low-use reading room hours for the Main; Local History and Genealogy; Microfilm; Science and Business Alcove; Newspaper and Current Periodicals; and Law Library reading rooms. We plan to reduce the reading room hours from 77.5 hours per week to 68.5 hours per week and to eliminate Sunday service during the summer months. This action will permit the redirection of 27,000 hours of staff time, which will stop the unacceptable decline in the quality of reference services during high use hours and assist in meeting security needs. The reading room hour reductions will be achieved by closing at 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday and Friday evenings, during which reference service activity has historically been lower. We are forwarding a letter to the Joint Committee on the Library advising them of this change, which we plan to implement on January 2, 1993.

The Library also plans to eliminate $337,000 in police overtime by establishing a new work shift and reducing the hours certain doors are open before 8:30 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M. While this change will inconvenience some users and staff, it will permit the Library to continue entrance inspections and provide adequate police protection during high-use periods.

Enclosed is a chart (Table 1) that details the non-personal accounts we propose to reduce. We are not requesting permanent reprogramming; instead, we ask that these accounts be maintained at the current level for fiscal 1994. It is important to note that these reductions follow the absorption of $1.8 million in price level increases that were requested but not allowed in the Library's fiscal 1993 budget. The chart reflects a reduction in regular travel, training, consultant services, other services, automation rental, software and equipment, and other items. The most significant reductions are in the regular travel, other services, and automation accounts. The non-personal accounts for the central automation office total $14.9 million, and the proposed reprogramming would cut them by $2,572,000 or 17 percent. This will postpone until a future year planned purchases of computer workstations and software, local area network equipment, and mainframe equipment. While this reprogramming will delay improving the Library's automation capabilities and productivity initiatives, we believe this one-time reduction is necessary to permit an orderly downsizing and to continue basic services for the Congress, researchers, and our staff. The requested reprogramming represents approximately 1.5 percent of the Library's basic appropriation of $203.2 million and approximates the amount approved by the Senate but reduced by conference committee action.

Enclosed is a second chart (Table 2) that describes the salary and non-personal accounts into which we propose to direct reprogrammed funds. These accounts include: Constituent Services ($1,066,000); Law Library ($234,000); Human Resources ($1,028,000); Integrated Support Services ($662,000); Science and Technology Information ($26,000); and Special Projects ($186,000). The amounts proposed for Constituent Services and Law Library include $508,000 to maintain and improve collections security, and the amount proposed for Human Resources include $522,000 to correct problems cited by the United States District Court. We do not expect enough staff attrition will occur within the

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Constituent Services and Human Resources accounts over the next several years to permit funding for on-board staff and plan to address this problem in our next budget request.

This reprogramming request also reflects recent organizational changes described in a separate letter forwarded to the Committee on November 17, 1992. Specifically, the Science and Technology Information (STT) effort was funded as a special project in fiscal 1992. For fiscal 1993, three core STI positions will be funded as a permanent organization by transferring one position each from Special Projects, Collections Services, and Constituent Services. The reprogramming request pertains to non-personal costs needed to continue this key initiative. The Special Projects service unit will continue to coordinate project teams to deal with strategic and operational matters affecting more than one of the Library's service units, including a major new three-year effort to conceive and develop the Library's overall electronic strategy. The reprogramming request pertains to a salary shortfall for on-board Special Projects staff.

Congressional Research Service, Salaries and Expenses

The Congressional Research Service must also absorb significant mandatory costs, as the fiscal 1993 appropriation provided only $708,000 of the $4,191,000 needed for these items. A significant portion of the shortfall was recovered by the hiring freeze which began in the spring, and we expect that future turnover will help further. However, we currently project that attrition will not be sufficient to cover all estimated salary and benefit costs. Therefore, CRS is also requesting approval to reprogram non-personal services funds temporarily in order to avoid furloughs. We estimate that up to $1.8 million will need to be shifted from non-personals into salaries and benefits to avoid furloughs. Depending on the rate of staff attrition, the amount needed may be lower.

The plans now being developed involve reduced spending in almost all allotments, with major impact on travel, training, professional and consultant services, rental of equipment, subscriptions and printing. We are going to continue with a limited hiring freeze and, as a result, plan to suspend temporarily the Graduate Recruit, Law Recruit, and Foreign Affairs and National Defense Associate Programs. We expect the new Congress to place significantly increased demands on CRS services; therefore, we are developing our plans in concert with planning for the 103rd Congress and are attempting to minimize reduction of CRS services. Specific actions are still being developed to reduce the size and distribution of many CRS products, taking into consideration priority needs of the Congress. Summary

We request your approval for this reprogramming request which is essential to avoid furloughs of 4-6 days for all staff within the Library's basic appropriation and CRS staff for 5-10 days. A staff furlough would significantly reduce Library services and employee morale at a time when we are looking toward increased demand in services.

The key elements of this reprogramming request -- funding salary shortfalls to avoid staff furloughs and to continue basic services to the Congress and the public, protecting the collections for the use of future generations, and putting in place a human resources system that is both legal and fair are fundamental Library priorities.

Your favorable consideration of this request would be appreciated. Please let

us know if you need further information on this matter.