By AUDREY FISHER
![Robert Cornelius's 1839 quarter-plate daguerreotype self-portrait](images/carson1.jpg)
Robert Cornelius's 1839 quarter-plate daguerreotype self-portrait is one of the many objects in the Marian S. Carson Collection. This collection, which came to the library in 1996, is believed to be the nation's most extensive private collection of early Americana.
As the Library begins to serve a new Congress and the nation in 1997, all staff can point to many achievements during the previous year -- a time of continuing change.
During 1996 the Library continued to improve service to Congress and the nation through technology, reduced the backlog of uncataloged items by 1.5 million, improved collections security, watched President Clinton sign the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in the Main Reading Room, received accolades for its growing Internet resources and its bimonthly Civilization magazine, secured the role of the Copyright Office and the American Folklife Center within the institution and renovated its facilities in anticipation of the centennial of the Thomas Jefferson Building in 1997, and the Library's bicentennial celebration in the year 2000. Meanwhile, the Library also gained a new Deputy Librarian, underwent a Library-wide reorganization and several management reviews, developed a Management Improvement Plan and settled the Cook class action racial discrimination case. Highlights include:
Management Improvement Plan
The Library's newly developed Management Improvement Plan (MIP) tracks progress in implementing strategic priorities as well as incorporates the many constructive recommendations contained in two reports commissioned by the General Accounting Office -- a management review conducted by Booz-Allen & Hamilton and a financial audit conducted by Price Waterhouse LLP. The MIP contains nine component parts: plans and programs; security; management-employee communications; training and development; accountability mechanisms; efficiency and responsiveness of support functions; streamlined management processes; financial management; and a broader understanding and appreciation of the Library.
![The Library's Senior Management Reporting Group](images/srmgmt.jpg)
The Library's Senior Management Reporting Group (seated, from left): Rubens Medina, Law Librarian; Winston Tabb, Associate Librarian for Library Services; Donald Scott, Deputy Librarian of Congress; Dr. Billington; Jo Ann Jenkins, Chief of Staff; Daniel Mulhollan, Director of the Congressional Research Service; and Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights; (standing): John Rensbarger, Inspector General; John Webster, Director of Financial Services; Geraldine Otremba, Director of Congressional Relations; Andre Carl Whisenton, Director of the Affirmative Action and Special Programs Office, Equal Employment Opportunity Complaints Office and Dispute Resolution Center; Jill Brett, Public Affairs Officer; Herbert Becker, Director of Information Technology Services; Lana Jones, Acting General Counsel; Lloyd Pauls, Associate Librarian for Human Resources Services; Linda Washington, Director of Integrated Support Services; Harry Yee, Labor Management Relations Chief; and Peter Braestrup, Senior Editor/Director of Communications. - Photo by Yusef El-Amin
Legislative Support to Congress
In its deliberations, Congress continued to rely on the objective, timely, nonpartisan and confidential support of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), including confidential consultations, tailored individual analyses, committee assistance and CRS products prepared in a variety of formats.
On Feb. 8, in the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building, President Clinton signed The Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- legislation aimed at preparing the nation to realize the potential benefits of the information superhighway. CRS provided support for this milestone legislation by preparing analyses of legal questions such as those pertaining to potential antitrust and First Amendment violations.
The Copyright Office also provided legislative support to Congress regarding the effect of the National Information Infrastructure on copyright law and served as technical adviser to the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property regarding the liability of online service providers for copyrightable content carried on the Internet.
The Copyright Office testified before the Senate against including the Copyright Office in a federal intellectual property corporation and advised Congress on issues such as extending the term of copyright and the operation of compulsory licenses. On March 1 the office delivered its report to Congress on the effect of the Visual Artists Moral Rights Act of 1990.
Improved Service to Congress and Nation Through Technology
The Library continued to improve its cataloging, copyright, research, management and information-delivery systems through the development and use of technology. Specific achievements in 1996 include:
THOMAS
Since Jan. 5, 1995, THOMAS, a World Wide Web-based Internet resource, has provided access to federal legislative information and links to other legislative Internet resources. The system was expanded to include bill summary and status information, major legislation, House and Senate committee reports, "Featured Items" (from House committees), "Congress This Week" (floor actions) and the Congressional Record Index for the 103rd Congress, and both sessions of the 104th Congress. In June 1996 the THOMAS home page was redesigned to facilitate system usage and to improve links to other Internet resources such as House and Senate home pages and to the text of historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. As of Sept. 30, 1996, more than 30 million transactions had been processed by the THOMAS system since its inception in January 1995.
Legislative Information System
Working with the Committee on House Oversight, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, in consultation with the House and Senate subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations, the Library developed a plan for a single integrated legislative information retrieval system to serve Congress. The plan is designed to reduce duplication of effort within the legislative branch and to improve the quality and timeliness of information to Congress. By the end of fiscal 1996, development was under way, with a first release of the system planned for the start of the 105th Congress.
Online Delivery of CRS Products and Services
The development of a CRS home page in 1996 made it possible for CRS to provide all "Issue Briefs" online to congressional offices. Besides providing access to CRS products and information about its services, the CRS home page organizes Internet resources by functions of staff in congressional offices and subject areas.
Internet Resources
Usage of the Library's Internet resources is growing exponentially. In April 1996 the Library recorded more than 24 million monthly transactions on all of its computer systems -- triple the number recorded in April 1992. The Library's home page (right) was redesigned in June 1996 to facilitate public searching. The hours of online availability of the Library of Congress Information System (LOCIS) were extended beyond midnight to 24 hours per day to accommodate users in varying time zones.
Left, the Library's home page; right, students from Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, Va., surf the Library's website during a reception after the announcement of Ameritech's $2 million gift to the Library. - Photo by Jim Higgins
The Library's Internet-based systems were cited for excellence in 1996, including: (1) Time magazine named the American Memory online historical collections among "the best" of 1996; (2) Point Communications, an Internet rating service, placed the Library's web site among the "Top 5% of All Web Sites;" (3) The Atlantic Monthly cited the Library's exhibitions as "the most compelling area"; and (4) the National Information Infrastructure (NII) Awards Program chose the Library as one of the six finalists in the education category.
Global Legal Information Network (GLIN)
GLIN is a cooperative international network in which nations contribute the full text of statutes and regulations to a database hosted by the Law Library of Congress. GLIN project software (release 1) is in production and work is under way to enhance the functionality in a second release. GLIN made its debut on the Library's home page in July 1996. While only member countries can retrieve images of legal documents, nonmembers are able to search the database and retrieve citations. To date, 11 member nations are contributing abstracts and full text at the rate of 15 entries per day.
National Digital Library Program
During 1996 the Library gained momentum toward its ambitious goal of digitizing millions of Americana items by the year 2000, the Library's bicentenary. The Library is working with other repositories and offering grants to aid them in digitizing their Americana collections. To date, more than 350,000 digital files are available online or in digital archives. In addition, more than 1.7 million digital files are in production or under contract for digitization.
The number of online collections doubled to a total of 16. Two new online exhibits were added ("Women Come to the Front: Journalists, Photographers and Broadcasters During World War II" and "Dresden: Treasures of the Saxon State Library") bringing to 12 the total number of online Library exhibits. The Handbook of Latin American Studies and 71 Country Studies were also made available online in 1996.
The National Digital Library Program effort continued to reach out to the education community with the March 6, 1996, launching of the Learning Page, a World Wide Web service designed for teachers and students. In September a "Back to School Special" on the Learning Page added teacher-generated suggestions from the Center for Children and Technology on how to use the Library's primary source materials in the classroom.
Geographic Information System
![Ralph Ehrenberg, Alan Voorhees, Gary Fitzpatrick, and Dr. Billington](images/map.jpg)
During the dedication of the Tangent digital scanner in the Geography and Map Division, Alan Voorhees (second from left) presented a map of a 19th century view of the University of Virginia to (from left) division Chief Ralph Ehrenberg, Gary Fitzpatrick, geographic information specialist, and Dr. Billington. - Photo by Yusef El-Amin
The Geography and Map Division (G&M) established itself as a leader in the cartographic and geographic communities through its work in geographic information systems. Working closely with private sector partners, G&M is developing the capability to create large-format digital images and transmit and display these images through the Internet. Donated computer hardware and software, valued in excess of $700,000, was installed and put into operation during 1996. More than 700 rare American maps have been scanned, and G&M successfully completed testing of a new file-compression technology that will allow the Library to transmit these images worldwide.
Technology Projects in Test Status
The Copyright Office Electronic Registration, Recordation and Deposit System (CORDS), a major new system for digital registration and deposit of copyrighted works over the Internet, is being developed by the Copyright Office in collaboration with the Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Corporation for National Research Initiatives. The Library successfully tested the registration and deposit components of the prototype system with Carnegie-Mellon University in February 1996. Four applications and accompanying copyright works (unpublished computer science technical reports) were successfully transmitted over the Internet and processed by the Copyright Office.
![Richard Anderson and Ed Rogers](images/cords.jpg)
Information Specialists Richard Anderson (seated) and Ed Rogers demonstrate the equipment that enables the Copyright Office to provide fax-on-demand service to the public. - Photo by Irene Kellogg
The Electronic Cataloging in Publication (ECIP) project is testing the feasibility of electronically transmitting manuscripts for cataloging via the Internet to reduce the number of keystrokes needed to create a record, eliminate mail time and postage costs, and enhance the quality of cataloging. Using this system, completed catalog records can be transmitted via e-mail to the publisher for inclusion on the copyright page of the printed book. Fifty-three publishers are now participating in this project. Staff have cataloged 707 titles, bringing the cumulative total since the experiment's inception to 1,082.
Collections Security
The Library is using the results of the GAO management review, financial audit and a comprehensive survey of collections security under a contract with the Computer Sciences Corp. to develop a comprehensive security program. Major security accomplishments during 1996 include: (1) an automated reader Registration System to identify readers using the Thomas Jefferson Building reading rooms; (2) an antitheft gate to prevent unauthorized removal of Library materials from the Newspaper and Current Periodicals Reading Room; (3) adoption of a policy to restrict personal belongings in reading rooms upon the installation of cloakrooms; (4) antitheft targets placed in an additional 1 million books, bringing the total to 4 million targeted volumes; (5) activation of the electronic system controlling stack access in the Adams Building; (6) assignment of a full-time, on-site security officer at the Landover Annex and implementation of a new electronic access system there; and (7) implementation of an item-level inspection program before and after public use for material designated as "vulnerable."
Arrearage Reduction
The Library continued to reduce its arrearage of unprocessed materials as demonstrated by another cut of 1.5 million items during fiscal 1996 -- a cumulative 47.2 percent decrease since the initial arrearage census in September 1989. Major progress was achieved in processing print materials, including cataloging a record 289,509 volumes. Building on the momentum generated in fiscal 1995 through the Program for Cooperative Cataloging, member libraries reached a high of 213 participants and contributed record-breaking totals in fiscal 1996: 14,173 bibliographic records; 97,964 name authorities; 8,074 series authorities; 2,026 subject authorities; and 780 classification numbers.
Arrearage reduction efforts have most recently made available to researchers the Altshuler Jazz Collection of 264,327 78-rpm sound records; a pamphlet collection of Americana consisting of 10,630 titles; and a Finnish collection of 1,000 titles.
Secondary Storage
Linked to the Library's arrearage reduction project is the development of a secondary storage storage site to house processed materials and to provide growth of the collection during the first part of the 21st century. During fiscal 1996, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) contracted with an architectural firm to plan for the development of the Fort Meade, Md., campus and to design the initial collection storage module for the Library of Congress. Plans call for the initial module for paper-based collections, primarily books, to be ready for occupancy in January 1999.
Important New Acquisitions
![Ralph Ellision](images/ellison.jpg)
The personal library of the late novelist Ralph Ellision was among the Library's notable acquisitions during 1996. - Photo by Bob Adelman
The Library receives millions of pieces each year, from copyright deposits, other federal agencies, and from purchases, exchanges and gifts. Notable acquisitions during fiscal 1996 include: the personal library of writer and educator Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man; the Marian S. Carson private collection of Americana; the personal papers and several hundred original drawings of cartoonist, playwright and screenwriter Jules Feiffer; the collection of jazz great Ella Fitzgerald; the first installment of the papers of Robert McNamara, former secretary of defense; the papers of I.M. Pei, the great modern architect; and Ars Moriendi, a rare 15th century volume.
Preservation Improvements
The Library took action during 1996 to improve the preservation of its vast and diverse collections by: (1) completing the installation of a state-of-the-art audio system; (2) developing a design for protective casing to house the Library's "top treasures"; (3) implementing the emergency response plan; (4) completing the mass deacidification treatment of the first 25,000 books from the general collections using the Bookkeeper limited production contract; (5) training staff to use the computer-driven, automated box-making machine; (6) refining procedures for the preparation, treatment and scanning of collection material as part of the National Digital Library effort; (7) developing environmental specifications for the secondary storage facility at Fort Meade; and (8) refurbishing the display cases for the Gutenberg Bible and the Giant Bible of Mainz.
![One of the large Bible display cases](images/bible.jpg)
In 1996 the cases for the Library's Bible of Mainz and Gutenberg Bible were reinstalled. The Bibles will are back on display in the Library's Jefferson Building. - Photo by N. Alicia Byers
Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels (CARP)
The Copyright Office initiated and administered the proceedings for the distribution of the 1990, 1991 and 1992 cable royalty funds. The Copyright Office also initiated the currently ongoing CARP proceeding to determine distribution of the 1992, 1993 and 1994 DART (digital audio recording tape) royalties in the Musical Works Funds and administered a universal settlement among the claimants to the Sounds Recordings Fund for 1995.
Copyright Restoration Provision of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreements Act
On Jan. 1, 1996, this act restored the copyrights of a vast number of foreign works that were previously in the public domain in the United States. Through October 1996, the Copyright Office has processed a total of 2,162 documents containing 7,632 restored titles.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
On Sept. 16, 1996, President Clinton signed Public Law 104-197, which contains modifications to the U.S. Copyright Law allowing NLS to expedite the production of audio and braille books, and at a reduced cost. Under the bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.), groups that produce specialized formats for blind persons are no longer required to gain permission from the copyright holder before beginning production.
![Mark Hatfield](images/hatfield.jpg)
Senator Mark Hatfield - photo by Larry Glatt
American Folklife Center (AFC)
In fiscal 1996 the AFC received a two-year congressional reauthorization, as well as private funding for the second year of the Montana Heritage Project and for the continuation of the Appalachian Forest Project. At right, Senator Mark Hatfield was among the well-wishers of the AFC who spoke during its 20th anniversary celebration on Sept. 18.(photo by Larry Glatt)
Bringing Library Treasures to the People
The Library's collections were shared with tens of thousands of Americans through exhibitions, special events and symposia, traveling exhibitions (21 sites in 17 states) and major publications. The Library continues to lead the nation in the presentation of online exhibitions which now number 12.
Major exhibitions included: "Dresden: Treasures from the Saxon State Library"; "Space and Place: Ways of World Mapping"; "Drawing the Iron Curtain: Cold War Cartoons, 1946-1960"; and "Pablo Neruda: Absence of Presence."
Copublishing arrangements with trade publishers included Witnessing America: The Library of Congress Book of Firsthand Accounts of Life in America, 1600-1900; "AuthorWorks American Authors" CD-ROM; The Book in America; Invention in America; Celebration of American Food, and 15 calendars based on Library of Congress collections.
![Bach's Mass in B Minor](images/bachnotes.jpg)
Many of the objects in the exhibition "Treasures from the Saxon State Library," including these pages from Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B Minor, were seen in the West for the first time since the early '60s.
The Library's bimonthly Civilization magazine, commercially published under a licensing agreement, completed its second year of publication with some 218,000 paid subscribers. It won a 1996 National Magazine Award for "general excellence" in its circulation class.
Restoration and Renovation
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) completed interior renovation and restoration of the Thomas Jefferson and Adams buildings (except for the Coolidge Auditorium and Whittall Pavilion, to be completed in October 1997) and reopened the west front entrance of the Jefferson building on Jan. 2, 1996. A Visitors' Center is under construction, to be completed in spring 1997 to coincide with the 100th birthday of the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Human Resources Improvements
The Library used its new automated Posting and Applicant Tracking System to track applications through the recruitment process, respond to queries from applicants and service units, and to meet reporting requirements of the Cook class action settlement agreement. The Library used the Office of Personnel Management's Microcomputer Assisted Rating System (MARS), as part of an effort to shorten the complex hiring process, to select approximately 100 library technicians within 90 days of the opening of the vacancy announcement. The Library also instructed its staff in sexual harassment prevention and diversity awareness.
![Photo calendar](images/calendar.jpg)
The Center for the Book published calendars using photographs from the recently renovated Jefferson building and portraits from the Library's collections. - Photo by Michael Dersin
Financial Statement Audit
In November 1995, the General Accounting Office contracted with Price Waterhouse LLP to conduct a financial statement audit of the Library one year earlier than originally planned. Price Waterhouse LLP gave a qualified opinion on the Library's statement of financial position because of incomplete property records, presented four material internal control weaknesses and seven reportable conditions. The auditors characterized the results as consistent with those of other initial federal agency audits.
Gift and Trust Funds
Private gifts supported a variety of new and continuing programs such as the National Digital Library (NDL) Program, the Junior Fellows program, an exhibition of treasures from the Saxon State Library, the Center for the Book and the National Film Registry Tour. For the NDL Program, an additional $4.3 million in new pledges were made, bringing the total in private pledges and gifts to $22.2 million, including $1 million in in-kind gifts. Through the planned giving program, the Library received a bequest of $49,384 from the estate of Marguerita Krould (the wife of a former Library employee) to support the performance and composition of music. Marguerite S. Roll made a gift of $1 million "for the improvement and expansion of the Library's Local History and Genealogy Collections." Until her death in April 1996, Mrs. Roll was an active member of the James Madison Council and a member of the Trust Fund Board.
Audrey Fischer is a writer-editor in Information Technology Services.