balance our implementation effort, we expect to explore areas not yet touched by our activities to date, provided that other agency support and the necessary talent and manpower are available. Some of these areas are noted in the following paragraphs.

One important area is the analysis of the present Federal structure vis-a-vis the library and information services responsibility.

This will include an analysis of what can be done by existing agencies under present laws and funding levels; determination of the assignment of responsibility for the national network concepts; and a continuing dialogue on the appropriate roles of local, State, and Federal Governments toward implementing an effective and benefit cost-shared national library and information services network.

Effort will continue to be expended in working with the Library of Congress toward strengthening its leadership role in the emerging national library network. The Library has just recently established a new office: Special Assistant to the Librarian for Network Development, a clear indication of LC's recognition of the importance of library networking; and the Commission will, of course, continue to work closely with that office in its efforts to define national network components, identify appropriate functions for the various components and formulate implementations priorities for the network. While the

Library of Congress represents but one aspect of the Commission's envisioned "full service" network, it is nonetheless, a crucial one,

and the Commission expects to devote considerable attention to assisting LC in its additional responsibilities in this area.

Attention will also be given to reexamining the National Program and

revising it as necessary to incorporate the results of information developed since the initial publication, effects of new technology, and changes in the various environments in which the National Program

must function.

Last summer, the Commission held a conference to obtain for the Committee on the Right of Privacy of the Domestic Council input for the report on national information policy which they were preparing for the President. This conference provided valuable input to the Committee from individual citizens, as well as for-profit and notfor-profit, private and public, and governmental and independent agencies. Last month NCLIS undertook to publish for the Domestic Council the final report of this study, National Information Policy. The Commission will now be soliciting comments from interested parties on how NCLIS can best undertake to implement those portions of the report which deal with library and information services. It is

anticipated that another conference to discuss implementation plans will probably be required.

There is little doubt in our minds that the demands upon the Commission for studies and implementation activities will exceed

the resources that can be made available, but we will continue to do the best we can with what we have to maintain steady progress toward the ideal stated in the National Program Document:

To eventually provide every individual in the United States with equal opportunity of access to that part of the total information resource which will satisfy the individual's educational, working, cultural and leisure-time needs and interests, regardless of the individual's location, social or physical condition or level of intellectual achievement.

We wish to express our thanks to the Committee for its careful consideration of our past budget requests and to express our hope for favorable action on our fiscal year 1978 budget request.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee,

Conference.

National Commission on Libraries

The Congress and the President have given their strong support
to the White House Conference on Library and Information
Services by the passage and signing of the Joint Resolution
(Public Law 93-568) in late 1974 authorizing a White House
Further evidence of Congressional interest and
support was the action in fiscal year 1975 budget delibera-
tions by Senate approval of the $3.5 million appropriation.
At that time, the Administration had not requested the
funds and, as a result, the House had taken no action. In
the Appropriation's Conference Committee session it was
decided that Congressional action on the appropriation be
delayed pending the request of the funds by the Administration.

In August of 1976 and again this January, the Administration
requested an appropriation of $3.5 million as part of the fiscal
year 1977 supplemental appropriation request. Congress did
not have an opportunity before adjourning to take action on
any supplementary appropriation request.

and Information Science

1717 K STREET, N.W. SUITE 601 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036

It seems obvious that the Congress and the Administration'
agree with the library community on the need and importance of
the White House Conference. President Carter, in a statement
last fall, stated in part "...If we are to succeed in developing

libraries to their full service potential, we must have the interest and participation of large numbers of the American public. The President is authorized to hold a White House Conference on Library and Information Services not later than 1978 for just this purpose.

"This conference should be the culmination of an extensive process of citizen involvement in library policy making its beginning at the Through preliminary conferences in each of the states,

grassroots.

the local citizenry can take a close look at their libraries and decide whether perhaps there are overlapping roles and responsibilities of public libraries, new services needed or other changes that need to be made.

"These are decisions that must be approved at the state and local level by an informed and knowledgeable citizenry. The White House Conference process will help to develop a public knowledgeable about alternative ways of providing good library service, and it will help create public support for libraries. Results from the state conferences can be pooled at the White House Conference. We will then have a sound foundation upon which to devise complementary local, state and Federal plans for library and information services in the decade ahead."