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News Release 3/20/06 (can be also be viewed by linking to this URL http://www.nclis.gov/news/pressrelease/pr2006/NCLIS-IMLSconsolidation200 6-04.pdf News Release Contact: Information Officer 1 202 606 9200 [log in to unmask] For Immediate Release President Bush Recommends Consolidation of NCLIS into IMLS Washington, DC USA, March 20, 2006-In response to the Administration's proposal for the consolidation of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) into the Institute for Museums and Libraries (IMLS) by FY 2008, the Commission had discussions at its recent meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Administration also proposes the merger of the current National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) programs for public and state library surveys into IMLS. The rationale for proposing the merger of the survey programs into IMLS is that consolidating grant making with data collection, along with the NCLIS role in policy advice, will strengthen federal library and information policy efforts and enhance our nation's research capacity on domestic and international library trends. Further, the consolidation of NCLIS and the NCES programs for public and state library surveys into IMLS will create greater efficiency of operations. The Commission meeting was held in conjunction with the symposium, "Scholarship and Libraries in Transition; A Dialogue about the Impacts of Mass Digitization," which NCLIS co-sponsored with the University of Michigan. At its meeting the Commission affirmed its commitment to ensuring that the level of public service provided under the current system will not be diminished and that all benefits to the American people will be maximized. This commitment emanates from the law that created NCLIS (Public Law 91-345 (20 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., signed July 20, 1970), which states that "library and information services adequate to meet the needs of the people of the United States are essential to achieve national goals." For 35 years it has been the Commission's responsibility to develop and recommend plans that will enable the American people to have adequate library and information services. The Commission's key statutory functions are identifying the needs of the people for library and information services, translating those needs into recommendations for national policy, and advising the President, the Congress, state and local governments and others on implementation of national policy. To carry out these key statutory responsibilities, the Commission has been expected to conduct studies, surveys and analyses of the nation's library and information needs; appraise the adequacies and deficiencies and evaluate the effectiveness of current library and information resources and services; conduct meetings, hearings and forums; and issue reports and publications. Since its creation in 1970, the Commission has engaged in many important initiatives to achieve its statutory mandate and published a number of reports of Commission findings, studies, and recommendations. Over the next few months NCLIS will work with IMLS and NCES to evaluate models of consolidation to ensure that the level of public service provided under the current system continues and that all potential benefits of enhanced coordination are maximized in service to the American people. About NCLIS The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) is a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public Law 91-345 to advise the President and Congress on national and international library and information policies, to appraise and assess the adequacies and deficiencies of library and information resources and services, and to develop overall plans for meeting national library and information needs. ********************************** Kim Kim A. Miller Special Assistant - Technical U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 1800 M Street, NW; Suite 350 North Tower Washington, DC 20036-5841 202-606-9200; Fax 202-606-9203 [log in to unmask] www.nclis.gov <http://www.nclis.gov/>