National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
Encyclopedia
The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) was an agency in the United States government between 1970 and 2008. The activities of the Commission were consolidated into the Institute of Museum and Library Services
.
appointed a National Advisory Commission on Libraries in 1966. The Advisory Commission was appointed to "make a comprehensive study and appraisal of the role of libraries as resources for scholarly pursuits, as centers for the dissemination of knowledge, and as components of the evolving national information systems". Other responsibilities included the appraisal of public agency programs and library funding. The Commission also had the task of making recommendations for government and private agencies to "ensure an effective and efficient library system for the Nation". The Advisory Commission ultimately recommended "the establishment of a National Commission on Library and Information Science as a continuing Federal Planning agency." The recommendations of the National Advisory Commission were incorporated into legislation (PL 91-345) that established the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) as a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States
in 1970.
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent agency of the United States federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the United States, having the mission to "create strong libraries and museums that connect...
.
Origins
President Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
appointed a National Advisory Commission on Libraries in 1966. The Advisory Commission was appointed to "make a comprehensive study and appraisal of the role of libraries as resources for scholarly pursuits, as centers for the dissemination of knowledge, and as components of the evolving national information systems". Other responsibilities included the appraisal of public agency programs and library funding. The Commission also had the task of making recommendations for government and private agencies to "ensure an effective and efficient library system for the Nation". The Advisory Commission ultimately recommended "the establishment of a National Commission on Library and Information Science as a continuing Federal Planning agency." The recommendations of the National Advisory Commission were incorporated into legislation (PL 91-345) that established the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) as a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
in 1970.
Purpose
- Advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of policy.
- Conduct surveys and studies relative to library and information needs.
- Develop plans to meet national library and information needs.
- Advise federal, state, local, and private agencies regarding library and information sciences.
Government Information
Studies making recommendations on the dissemination of federal government information, including:- 1978–2001 Study of the role of government documents in a national program of library and information services.
- “Principles of Public Information,” adopted by NCLIS on June 29, 1990.
- “Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination,” issued in 2001.
Other Activities
- Between 1973 and 2000, NCLIS published at least 10 reports dealing with public libraries. These reports dealt with funding, providing Internet access to the public, and establishing community information and referral services.
- Other activities also include statistics, the sister libraries program, a conference on information literacy held in Prague in 2003, and two White House Conferences.
Strategic Goals
In 2004 the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) announced three strategic goals to guide its work in the immediate future.- Appraising and assessing library and information services provided for the American people,
- Strengthening the relevance of libraries and information science in the lives of the American people,
- Promoting research and development for extending and improving library and information services for the American people.
NCLIS Chairpersons
Brief biographies and photographs of NCLIS chairs are provided in Meeting the Information Needs of the American People: Past Actions and Future Initiatives Appendix B.- Frederick BurkhardtFrederick BurkhardtProfessor Frederick Burkhardt was for many years the President Emeritus of the American Council of Learned Societies . His decades of work on The Correspondence of Charles Darwin constituted a signal example of dedication to a demanding and ambitious scholarly enterprise. He was an Honorary Fellow...
(1970–1978) - Charles BentonCharles BentonCharles Benton is CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Benton Foundation and former CEO of Public Media Incorporated, a film and video publisher and distributor...
(1978–1982) - Elinor M. Hashim (1982–1986)
- Kenneth Y. Tomlinson (1986–1987)
- Jerald C. Newman (1987–1990)
- Charles E. Reid (1990–1992)
- J. Michael Farrell (1992–1993)
- Jeanne Hurley SimonJeanne Hurley SimonJeanne Hurley Simon, the first wife of Senator Paul Simon and the mother of Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, was a state and national public official in her own right....
(1993–2000) - Martha B. GouldMartha B. GouldMartha B. Gould was formerly a chairperson of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. She was appointed to the commission by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and reappointed in 1998. She was designated chairperson on March 3, 2000 and served until the expiration of her second...
(2000–2003) - Joan R. ChallinorJoan R. ChallinorJoan Ridder Challinor is the former chairperson of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science in the United States.Joan Challinor was appointed to the commission by President Bill Clinton in 1995. She was designated as its chairperson on July 20, 2003 and served until January 28,...
(2003–2004) - Beth Duston Fitzsimmons (2004–2008)
NCLIS Publications
The Commission issued a comprehensive list of publications in Appendix F of its final (March 2008) report, Meeting the Information Needs of the American People: Past Actions and Future Initiatives. The report documents the history and accomplishments of the Commission and provides a compelling future agenda for information policy research and development.Closing
In Fiscal Year 2007–2008 appropriations, the Commission received limited funding and instructions to terminate its operations. Activities were consolidated under the IMLS, and the Commission office closed on March 30, 2008.External links
- Jeanne Hurley Simon Papers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Meeting the Information Needs of the American People: Past Actions and Future Initiatives (ERIC)