SEO. 4. 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 payments shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, from funds of the Commission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Commission and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

FUNCTIONS

SEC. 5. (a) The Commission shall have the primary responsibility for developing 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;

(2) conduct studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and informational needs of the Nation 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;

(3) evaluate the effectiveness of library and information science programs and disseminate the results thereof;

(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) provide technical assistance and advice to 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 information-handling capability as essential links in the national communications networks; and

(7) submit to the President and the Congress (not later than January 1 of each year) a report on its activities during the preceding fiscal year. (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 fifteen members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than 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. One of the members of the Commission shall be designated by the President as Chairman of the Commission. The terms of office of 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 three 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 Commistion or otherwise engaged in the business of the Commission, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the Secretary, but not exceeding the rate specified at the time of such service for grade GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, including travel time, and while so serving on the business of the Commission away from their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, and

authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons employed intermittently in the Government service.

(c) (1) The Commission is authorized to appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, covering appointments in the competitive service, such professional and technical personnel as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its function under this Act.

(2) The Commission may procure, without regard to the civil service laws or the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, temporary and intermittent services of such personnel as is necessary to the extent authorized by section 15 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946, but at rates not to exceed $100 per day (or, if higher, the rate specified at the time of such service for grade GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code), including travel time, and while so serving on the business of the Commission away from their home or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons employed intermittently in the Government services.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 7. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and for each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be appropriated by the Congress for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Mr. BRADEMAS. We have a most distinguished panel of witnesses both today and on Thursday. Without further comment from the Chair, I suggest we move on to hear from them.

The first statement we will hear today is that of our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Steiger. Our good friend from Wisconsin is a member of this subcommittee, and a cosponsor of H.R. 8839.

STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM A. STEIGER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

Mr. STEIGER. Mr. Chairman, I would first like to thank you for scheduling legislation to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science as the first order of business of the Select Subcommittee on Education.

I wholeheartedly support this legislation. I believe that a permanent Commission on Libraries and Information Science will insure a continuing inquiry, evaluation, and coordination of our library resources and programs which was begun by the President's Advisory Commission on Libraries.

In order to maintain and improve the resources and services of school, college, public, research, and special libraries, national assessment and long-range planning are needed. Although libraries have traditionally been locally controlled, and should remain so, they are, nevertheless, national resources to be shared as necessary by all who

need them.

On the first day of the 91st Congress, I introduced legislation to set forth a congressional statement on a national library policy and to establish a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science as a continuing Federal planning agency. I would like to emphasize the words "planning agency." This Commission will not control or direct the activities of State and local libraries.

I am proud to say that in my own State of Wisconsin a good deal of effort is going into planning programs to encourage comprehensive

interlibrary cooperation. The 1968 report of the Wisconsin Library Association, "Public Library System Development for Wisconsin: An Action Program," states:

The chain of book resources designed for public library users must have its sound development within the public library structure, from local community, to system area, to statewide and national resources. Without such a network, which will link the local library user to the State and National resources, questions remain unanswered, curiosity unsatisfied, and general information illdisseminated.

In order for all our people to benefit from the information in our libraries, there must be evaluation of the needs of users, the effectiveness of present-day libraries in meeting those needs and the impact of federal legislation on library development. This information must then be translated into action for improving and increasing our library services. I believe a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science will be an important vehicle for obtaining our objectives.

Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous consent that the President's April 12 statement launching National Library Week be included at this point.

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON

Libraries are the banks of our educational system. And they yield rich dividends in knowledge and in wisdom. They are a summing-up of past achievement and a stimulant to future progress.

Never have we had greater reason than this year to celebrate National Library Week. For never have our libraries played a more prominent role in our campaign against ignorance and for fullness of educational opportunity.

-Change is sweeping our academic institutions. Our libraries are sensitive to the currents, responsive to the tide.

-Modern technology is revolutionizing our system of public information. Our libraries, with new programs and new media techniques, have become exciting and effective centers of innovation.

-The need to bring the benefits of better education to those who have been bypassed by existing programs is more imperative than ever. By extending their services throughout the communities of America, our libraries immeasurably advance our goal, and perform the highest public good. For these and all their selfless efforts to serve, I congratulate America's librarians a dedicated profession of men and women who enrich their fellow citizens, their communities, and their country.

(Signed) RICHARD NIXON.

Mr. BRADEMAS. Thank you, Congressman Steiger, for appearing before this subcommittee.

Another distinguished member of the Education and Labor Committee has asked to make a statement regarding this legislation, and at this point in the proceedings we will hear from our colleague, the very able gentleman from New York, Mr. Hugh Carey.

STATEMENT OF HON. HUGH L. CAREY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Mr. CAREY. H.R. 8839 provides for the establishment of a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and authorizes the appropriation for this purpose of $500,000 for fiscal year 1970.

My deep commitment to excellence in education includes my recognition of the tremendous contributions made by our Nation's libraries. Too often taken for granted, our school, academic, and public libraries undergird and enrich education, both formal and informal, at every

level. The library makes it possible for each individual at a time he chooses, to set his own informational, educational, or recreational goals, and to proceed at his own pace in reaching those goals.

The Congress has also recognized the importance of libraries as indicated by such legislation as the Library Services and Construction Act, title II of both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act, and many others. These Federal programs have helped our libraries respond adequately to the age of education and an era of total communication.

However, these efforts have been fragmented. Often administered by different units of the executive branch they have been inconsistently interpreted and relatively uncoordinated. The report of the National Advisory Commission on Libraries, dated October 3, 1968, makes as its first recommendation that it be declared national policy that the American people should be provided with library and informational services adequate to their needs.

H.R. 8839, of which I am a cosponsor, would take the first, most important step in placing libraries in their proper position on the national agenda and in laying the foundation for sound national planning and leadership. Such a Commission will collaborate with State and local governments and with appropriate private agencies to work toward a sound national plan which can be used to guide libraries toward a recognized and achievable goal of adequate services to all Americans. This responsibility can be adequately discharged only if the Commission functions as an independent agency within the executive branch, as prescribed by section 3 of H.R. 8839.

It should be noted that the proposed Commission will consist of 15 private citizens of competence or interest in the needs of society for libarary services, but not more than five members would be professional librarians or information specialists. If we are to control the information explosion and make data serve our social and national goals, the establishment of this Commission is essential. I urge you to join me in support of this important bill.

Mr. BRADEMAS. Congressman Carey, it has been a pleasure to hear your testimony. Thank you for appearing here today.

We will now hear the statement of our colleague, the Honorable Frank Thompson, Jr., of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK THOMPSON, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I am privileged to have this opportunity to testify on behalf of H.R. 8839, a bill that would establish a permanent National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. As we know, creation of the permanent Commission was recommended by the temporary Advisory Commission on Libraries created by Executive order 2 years ago. The temporary Commission's report which was submitted to the President last October has been endorsed by the American Library Association and the Association of Research Libraries. I am pleased to note that New Jersey's distinguished State librarian, Mr. Roger McDonough, has testified in support of H.R. 8839 in his capacity as president of the American Library Association. It is my understanding that his successor, Mr. William Dix, the equally

distinguished librarian of Princeton University, plans to testify before the Senate Education Committee on a companion bill, S. 1519 in his capacity as president-elect of the association. I associate myself completely with their views.

Mr. Chairman, the explosion of knowledge which this Nation and the world is witnessing makes it imperative that there exist suitable places for the storage, transfer, and retrieval of information. The incredible outpouring of new information will be of very little use to future generations unless this vast accumulation is suitably cataloged and made readily available to those who would make use of it. It is, therefore, of vital importance that there be a national instrumentality to devise suitable plans and surveys for meeting library informational needs and to provide technical assistance and advice to State, local, and private libraries. The bill before you would create such an instrumentality.

I wholeheartedly endorse the provisions of H.R. 8839 and urge favorable consideration by the subcommittee.

Thank you.

Mr. BRADEMAS. Thank you, Congressman Thompson for your fine

statement.

Our next witness this morning is the distinguished Librarian of Congress, L. Quincy Mumford.

Mr. Mumford, would you please take a seat at the table? We are very pleased to welcome you before the subcommittee today, sir.

STATEMENT OF L. QUINCY MUMFORD, LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS

Mr. MUMFORD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to appear here today to discuss H.R. 8839, a bill to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

As you know, in September 1966 the President appointed the National Advisory Commission in Libraries to study and appraise the role of libraries broadly as resources for scholarly pursuits, centers for the dissemination of knowledge, and components of the evolving national information systems. In addition, the Commission was to review policies, programs, and practices of Government agencies that have a bearing on the role of libraries and their effective utilization, to examine library funding, and to develop recommendations for action to insure an effective and efficient library system for the Nation.

One of the major recommendations of the Commission was that a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science be established on a continuing basis as a Federal planning agency. I was a member of the President's Committee which reviewed the recommendations of the Advisory Commission, and I strongly supported the recommendation for a continuing body to survey library and information needs and advise public and private bodies as to how best they can be

met.

There is considerable evidence that the libraries of the country, at all levels, have not been able collectively, to perform as effectively as they must if they are to serve the information needs of all the people. It is true that the volume of services performed by libraries and information centers today is far greater than at any time in the past. Similarly, the