June 30, 1997

Contact:
Press Contact: Yvonne French (202) 707-9191
Public Contact: Laura Wong (202) 707-5581

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Media Advisory: Library of Congress To Host Conference on Japanese Information

The Library of Congress will host an international conference, "Japanese Information in Science, Technology and Commerce," July 30 through August 1.

During the conference, 30 specialists from Japan, Europe, Australia and the United States will discuss growth of the Internet and electronic commerce, technology linkage, sources of strategic information, Japanese culture and language in the information age, and changes in information disclosure.

The conference is the fifth international biennial conference on the practices and politics of obtaining access to Japanese scientific, technical and business information, and the first time it has been held in the United States. It is being co-sponsored by the Japan Documentation Center of the Library of Congress and the U.S. Department of Commerce Asia-Pacific Technology Program.

The Japan Documentation Center has held three conferences on Japanese information since its inception in 1992. The center is a joint project of the Library of Congress and the Center for Global Partnership of the Japan Foundation. The Japan Documentation Center provides current materials relating to Japan in the areas of economics, commerce, industry, law, politics, the environment and social conditions. One of its main purposes is to ferret out difficult-to-obtain "gray literature," or unpublished information, for the U.S. Congress.

The Asia-Pacific Technology Program has, since 1987, been helping U.S. companies make use of Japanese science and technology through technical assessments and studies, conferences and policy formulations.

The conference will be held in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E.

Currently credentialed members of the press are invited to attend the $375 conference free of charge.

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PR 97-116
6/30/97
ISSN 0731-3527