Staff reviewed the document and determined that the objectives and most of the sections of the document are still appropriate today. However, the section on networking needed revision because of the major technological developments affecting networking and resource sharing. The original document called for planning, developing, and implementing "a nationwide network of library and information services" and for legislation and funding at the federal level. With the rapid development of nationwide networks, such as OCLC and RLIN, regional and state networks, and the linking together through the Linked Systems Project, the concept of a single national network with strong federal leadership is no longer appropriate, nor does the library/information community want it. Because of the growth of networks in the private sector, technological developments, and other changes, the Commission decided to revise the networking section. In the process of preparing the revision, the Commission discovered that it is virtually impossible to revise one section of a decade-old document, and therefore, decided instead to prepare a new document to replace the original section. The new networking document was submitted to the Network Advisory Committee (NAC) of the Library of Congress for review and comment. NAC consists of experts in networking and includes representatives from all the major networks and from the key associations in the library and information field. Extensive discussion of the draft document is scheduled for the spring 1985 meeting of NAC. Based on this discussion, the Commission will revise the networking document and disseminate it widely to the community. TECHNICAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE Throughout the year, NCLIS provided technical advice and assistance to a number of agencies in the Executive Branch. In several instances, work with other agencies has become part of a major Commission project and is described elsewhere in this report. Such projects include work with the Department of Commerce on archiving satellite data, ongoing work with the Department of Agriculture on rural information services, work with the Department of State on alternatives to UNESCO programs, and others. International The international library/information arena was of particular concern to NCLIS during FY 1984 because of the U.S. decision to withdraw from UNESCO and the need to design alternative mechanisms to further international library, information, and archival programs important to U.S. interests. As secretariat for the U.S. National Committee for the UNESCO General Information Program (PGI), NCLIS continued to serve as an official advisor to the U.S. State Department on UNESCO and other international information-related programs. NCLIS was asked by the State Department to do three things during 1984: 1) encourage full and active U.S. participation in the UNESCO/PGI until the decision to withdraw from UNESCO is actually implemented; 2) monitor any changes in the PGI program during the year; and 3) draft a proposal for alternative mechanisms to accomplish the objectives of the PGI, should the U.S. carry out its intent to withdraw from UNESCO. In accordance with its mandate to advise both the Executive and Legislative Branches on matters relating to library and information policies and plans, NCLIS also provided technical assistance to Congress as it considered the question of U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO. In drafting the Proposal for Alternative Mechanisms to Accomplish U.S. Objectives in the International Library/ Information Arena, NCLIS worked closely with a subcommittee of the U.S. National Committee for the UNESCO PGI chaired by Joseph Caponio of the National Technical Information Service. The proposal emphasizes short-term, temporary solutions, since U.S. withdrawal would make it necessary to keep crucial activities operating until new and permanent structures, requiring extensive study and investment of time and money, could be set in place. The proposal attempts to include all areas in which the PGI program is active: libraries, archives, information science and technology, standardization, and scientific and technical information. Emphasis is placed on the need for full U.S. participation in international organizations concerned with information-related matters; education and training programs; international standards and other activities that benefit the U.S. economy; publications; preservation of the cultural heritage; and administrative mechanisms. The NCLIS Executive Director formally presented the proposal to State Department officials at an interagency meeting held in September. NCLIS also worked closely with the U.S. Information Agency during the fiscal year as an advisor on international book and library-related programs. The Commission was asked to provide a representative to the U.S. Books Abroad Task Force, which is helping to prepare a proposal to enhance and revitalize U.S. international book and library-related programs through a special appropriation. With USIA assistance, NCLIS Chairman Elinor Hashim was sent to the 1984 conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in Nairobi as a special guest of the Kenyan Library Association. The NCLIS Executive Director traveled to Argentina under USIA auspices to be the featured speaker at the 19th Conference of the Argentine Library Association. Office of Management and Budget NCLIS submitted written comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on a proposed information policy circular on federal information management. The Commission's chief concerns were the general principles of information resources management, competition with the private sector, and user charges for information products and services. OMB prepared a summary of the comments received from 53 persons, agencies, and organizations. Several respondents referred to the report of the NCLIS Task Force on Public Sector/Private Sector Relations and the principle concerning government leadership, as opposed to management, in providing information. The three policy issues of greatest concern to all parties were those raised by NCLIS. OMB intends to publish a new information policy circular in FY 1985. NCLIS also provided OMB with updates to a directory of selected library and information organizations that the Commission originally compiled to assist that agency. OMB and outside groups continue to attest to the usefulness of this directory. National Science Foundation NCLIS staff provided assistance and information to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its study by the Rand Corporation on Scientific and Technical Information Transfer: Issues and Options. NSF issued its report, which refers to NCLIS's Toward a National Program for Library and Information Services: Goals for Action. U.S. Department of Education The Commission continued to work with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Department of Education to facilitate publication of timely surveys for the library and information community. NCLIS, with the assistance of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, encouraged state librarians to provide needed data to NCES. By planning and coordinating semiannual meetings between NCES and the library/information community, the Commission was able to help maintain good communication between the two groups. NCLIS was also successful in persuading the Census Bureau and NCES to include library related questions in the Current Population Survey questionnaire. Gathering statistics about library and information products and services is an important task with which the Commission will continue to be involved. Additional work with the Department of Education is described in Section I of this annual report. LIAISON WORK WITH THE The Commission maintains a strong relationship with numerous organizations in the library/information community in order to identify and address major issues, needs and concerns in our field. Among these are the American Library Association, the American Society for Information Science, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, the Information Industry Association, and the Special Libraries Association. NCLIS meetings have been held in conjunction with meetings of these organizations, and its spring meeting is frequently scheduled during the American Library Association's National Library Week in April. The Commission also takes the lead in identifying national-level interests and concerns of the library/information community through its coordination of the Public Affairs Roundtable, which meets once a month at NCLIS headquarters. This group serves as a forum for the informal exchange of information on all matters of concern to the library and information profession. Participants include representatives of federal agencies, library/information organizations, and the private sector. Follow-up on the White House Conference on Library and The 1979 White House Conference on Library and Information Services, which was planned and coordinated by NCLIS, had as its theme "Bringing Information to People," and was structured around user needs. This major nationwide needs assessment represented more than two decades of dedicated effort on the part of librarians, trustees, and concerned citizens, and involved the participation of approximately 100,000 people in pre-conferences and the national conference. During FY 1984 the Commission continued to work with federal agencies to encourage and monitor the implementation of the 64 resolutions of the White House Conference. The Commission sent its annual inquiry to the heads of U.S. government agencies to update activity in the areas of the White House Conference recommendations. The Commission continued its close cooperation with the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce (WHCLIST), which was created by two resolutions of the 1979 White House Conference. The resolutions called for a committee of 118, made up of one lay and one professional delegate elected from each state and territorial delegation, to monitor implementation of the White House Conference resolutions and work toward a followup conference. During the 1983 WHCLIST conference, the delegates passed a resolution calling for NCLIS to study "National Library Imperatives" to complement the report A Nation at Risk. One purpose of the study would be to recommend a national agenda for libraries that could be used as a basis for a 1989 White House Conference on Library and Information Services. In July 1984 NCLIS passed a resolution supporting planning for the national conference on library and information services to be held in 1989. The Commission resolved that it would: 1) Request commitment by the President, the United States 2) In consultation with the Executive Office of the President, The Fifth Annual WHCLIST meeting was held in September 1984 in Evanston, Illinois. "Toward a Nation of Readers" was the conference theme. The several resolutions passed at the conference |