FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
August 2, 2006
Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
Comments Requested on Plan to Consolidate NCLIS and Statistics
Programs into IMLS
Deadline for Comments: August 31, 2006
Washington, DC—The
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is requesting
comments on a draft plan for the consolidation into IMLS
of the functions of the National Commission on Library
and Information Science (NCLIS) and the public and state
library statistics surveys of the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES). The plan, which would go
into effect in fiscal year 2008, results from President
Bush’s fiscal year 2007 budget request.
NCLIS currently advises the President and
Congress on national and international library and information
policies, assesses library and information resources and
services, and develops overall plans for meeting national
library and information needs. One of the commission’s
main functions is to work cooperatively with the NCES
in implementing the Library Statistics Cooperative Program
(LSCP). NCES formally initiated and funded LSCP in 1989.
It includes surveys on academic libraries, public
libraries, school library media centers, and state library
agencies. NCES works collaboratively with the Census Bureau
and NCLIS to plan survey content and to collect, process,
and disseminate the data.
As the primary federal agency dedicated
to library service, IMLS is committed to the successful
continuation of these statistics programs, and to assuming
the responsibility of national library and information
policy. Developing information policy that supports lifelong
learning in our knowledge society is core to the authority
provided to IMLS by the Museum and Library Services Act.
The Administration’s consolidation proposal enhances
the agency’s role in public and state library data
collection and establishes IMLS as the key federal agency
with responsibility for library and information policy.
In calling for the consolidation of NCLIS
and the two NCES surveys into IMLS, the President’s
budget request states the Administration’s belief
that , “this move will strengthen federal library
policy efforts and enhance our national research capacity
on domestic and international library trends.”
Comments on the draft plan, which
can be viewed in PDF format, should be sent by August
31, 2006 to:
Rebecca Danvers, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Research and Technology
Institute of Museum and Library Services
1800 M St., NW, 9th floor
Washington, DC 20036
e-mail: rdanvers@imls.gov;
fax: 202-653-4625
and to:
Mary Downs, Ph.D.
Research Officer
Office of Research and Technology
Institute of Museum and Library Service,
1800 M St., NW, 9th floor
Washington, DC 20036
e-mail: mdowns@imls.gov
fax: 202-653-4625
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