A task force was appointed in September 2000 to assess the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in pursuit of its legislated mandate to serve as the chief agricultural information resource of the United States1. The task force conducted an extensive study of the mission, management, programs and operations of the NAL. Study methods included stakeholder surveys, comparisons with other national library operations, and internal reviews. Task Force findings were issued in the "Report on the National Agricultural Library - 2001." Through this report the task force laid a foundation for substantive recommendations to the Department for the revitalization of NAL, an important information resource for the food, fiber, and agriculture enterprise.
