I. The Role of Library and Information Services in Lifelong Learning

I. The Role of Library and Information Services in Lifelong Learning

RESPONSE TO "A NATION AT RISK"

uring the the Commission's October 1983 meeting, NCLIS Chairman Elinor Hashim established an ad hoc committee to study the report A Nation at Risk, issued by the National Commission on Excellence in Education, and to draft an appropriate response. The ad hoc committee examined A Nation at Risk as well as other reports issued recently on our nation's educational system, and prepared a statement which was unanimously adopted by the full Commission during its January 1984 meeting in Washington, D.C. The statement reads:

"A major nationwide review of elementary and secondary education in the United States is underway. During the past year, several studies and reports have been released by prominent organizations, groups, or individuals. Among the reports is A Nation at Risk prepared by the National Commission on Excellence in Education (NCEE) appointed by Secretary of Education T. H. Bell. This report and the others generally recommend more rigorous academic programs and standards for elementary and secondary education. The recommendations would increase the number and quality of course requirements, strengthen teaching, and improve the environment for learning.

"Members of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science support the effort to increase the effectiveness of American education. We note, however, an important void in the reports, particularly in A Nation at Risk. "Although the report recognizes that effective participation in our 'Learning Society' requires each person to be able to

manage complex information in electronic and digital form, it makes no recommendations on the role of library and information resources in elementary and secondary schools. The report omits reference both to the importance of library and information resources to underpin all of learning and to the essential skills and proficiencies involved in finding and using information effectively.

"A basic objective of education is for each student to learn how to identify needed information, locate and organize it, and present it in a clear and persuasive manner. This objective should be realized in part through academic courses and in part through school library media centers which provide special opportunity for students to develop research and selfstudy skills and to build capacities for lifelong learning.

"School libraries should hold the materials to complement and supplement texts used in the various academic studies. They should introduce students to the use of their own and other libraries as places holding the record of our culture and resources for continuing reference and learning. A major criterion for the determination of excellence at any college and university is the quality of its library and information. resources; and yet NCEE omitted any such criteria from the determination of excellence in elementary and secondary schools.

"The Members of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science believe that each elementary and secondary school must have school library media services of strong quality. As the Federal government, the states, local school districts and schools proceed with plans and actions for strengthening elementary and secondary education in the United States, we urge that each student be provided effective library and information services. These services should be integrated with the student's entire program of studies and should be connected with services outside of the school-such as those of public, academic and research libraries. These services must be provided by elementary and secondary school personnel who are well qualified in library and information science and able to teach information skills and manage library resources in their schools. With these services in place for all students, the objectives of strengthening education proposed in the several reports can be met."

The statement received considerable notice and support from members of the library/information community. For example, a state school library/media consultant wrote NCLIS that the statement supports the position in her state, which is developing