Good afternoon! It's a pleasure to bring greetings from the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. NCLIS Chairperson, Jeanne Simon sends her personal best wishes for a great PLA conference. As many of you may remember, Jeanne spoke at the last national conference in Atlanta in 1994. I am delighted to represent the Commission at this PLA conference. Also, I want to introduce "Abe" Abramson who was nominated to NCLIS by President Clinton last Fall. Abe is from Missoula, Montana, where he is a public library trustee and a founding trustee of the Missoula Public Library Foundation. We are delighted that he could attend this conference.
This year PLA has put together another terrific conference program! And what an appropriate theme: "ACCESS FOR ALL: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROMISE". But, as we all know, the promise of universal access to public libraries is not delivered easily, even in the best of times. And sometimes, today, it feels an awful lot like we are living in times that are best described by the opening line from Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Steven Levy may have had this thought in mind when he wrote in Newsweek last February that: "...the information technology revolution has only just begun, but already it's starting to overwhelm us. It's outstripping our capacity to cope, antiquating our laws, transforming our mores, reshuffling our economy, reordering our priorities, redefining our workplace, putting our Constitution to the fire, shifting our concept of reality."
The overwhelming consequence of the revolution in information technology means the best of times, and the worst of times for public libraries in America. The opportunities presented by new information technologies are enormous. But, for some public libraries, the promise lies in simply surviving.
The same challenges and opportunities facing the public library community are affecting the National Commission. NCLIS is at the vortex of the changing national information policy paradigm. We are addressing policy issues related to telecommunication regulations, copyright, access to public information, the future of LSCA, and the role of public libraries with the Internet.
The National Commission's concerns at the Federal level are reflected in your public library advocacy efforts at the state and local level. We are all working to both expand public library services and to enhance access to information services for all Americans. Our efforts will only be successful if we proactively seek partnerships through coordination, cooperation, and collaboration.
To characterize the public library's role as only a safety net for public access to the information infrastructure, may not help us to realize the promise of access. Public libraries must demonstrate that we serve the total community, and we need to have the courage to proactively communicate with non-librarians and non-library users in our communities.
How often do we as librarians, library trustees, or public library directors reach out to talk with our colleagues in other community agencies, elected and appointed officials? How many of us belong to the local Chamber of Commerce? How many are active in party politics? How many of us serve on local and community committees or task forces? How many public libraries are proactively providing information services to business organizations, to non-profit agencies, and to elected officials? Do enough of us serve on budget or strategic planning committees for local government? How effectively do we interact with local redevelopment and economic development agencies?
Our advocacy efforts cannot be limited to budget issues or confined to concerns specific to public libraries. Public librarians' advocacy efforts must address those policy issues that affect the needs of the entire community. Public libraries are essential to the quality of life in a community. We need not be apologetic about proactively establishing coalitions of community interests. We must have the courage to reshape the technology revolution into community information services based on interlocal government agreements, coalitions, or resource sharing. It is only through these partnerships that the public library promise of access to all will be achieved.
So, then, what is NCLIS doing to help advance the public library promise of access to all? As you may know, the National Commission is a micro-agency of the Federal government. We are just about the size of a pixel. But, just as a pixel is essential to the display of digital information, so NCLIS fulfills an essential role in the national information policy arena by advising the President and the Congress. We work closely with Congressional members and staff on the Hill, with the ALA Washington Office, and we are fortunate that our Chairperson is Jeanne Hurley Simon, articulate, knowledgeable, and with good contacts within both the Congress and the Clinton Administration.
This year the Commission is in the midst of surveying public library involvement with the Internet. Our 1994 survey reported that only 20.9% were connected. Preliminary information from the 1996 NCLIS survey indicates that _____% of public libraries report that they are now using the Internet. [Additional preliminary results of the survey -- additional material will be available through the NCLIS WWW home page shortly]
Now, since our time is very limited, I want to leave you with my favorite quote from The Prince by Machiavelli:
"And let it be noted that there is no more delicate matter to take to hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, nor more doubtful in its success, than to set up as a leader in the introduction of changes. For he [she] who innovates will have for his [or her] enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new."
I believe that we are living in the very best of times for public libraries in America, provided that we are all willing to take the dual role of innovator and implementor of change. I am certain that we will realize the public library promise of access for ALL!
Best wishes from the National Commission, and from me personally, for a wonderful conference. Power to the Library! Thank you.