President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed a National Advisory Commission on Libraries in 1966. The Advisory Commission was appointed to "make a comprehensive study and appraisal of the role of libraries as resources for scholarly pursuits, as centers for the dissemination of knowledge, and as components of the evolving national information systems". Other responsibilities included the appraisal of public agency programs and library funding. The Commission also had the task of making recommendations for government and private agencies to "ensure an effective and efficient library system for the Nation". The Advisory Commission ultimately recommended "the establishment of a National Commission on Library and Information Science as a continuing Federal Planning agency." The recommendations of the National Advisory Commission were incorporated into legislation that established the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science as a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States in 1970.
Purpose
Advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of policy.
Conduct surveys and studies relative to library and information needs.
“Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination,” issued in 2001.
Other Activities
Between 1973 and 2000, NCLIS published at least 10 reports dealing with public libraries. These reports dealt with funding, providing Internet access to the public, and establishing community information and referral services.
Other activities also include statistics, the sister libraries program, a conference on information literacy held in Prague in 2003, and two White House Conferences.
Strategic Goals
In 2004 the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science announced three strategic goals to guide its work in the immediate future.
Appraising and assessing library and information services provided for the American people,
The Commission issued a comprehensive list of publications in Appendix F of its final report, . The report documents the history and accomplishments of the Commission and provides a compelling future agenda for information policy research and development.
Closing
In Fiscal Year 2007–2008 appropriations, the Commission received limited funding and instructions to terminate its operations. Activities were consolidated under the IMLS, and the Commission office closed on March 30, 2008.
