July 7, 2000

Dear (Senate and House and Majority and Minority Staff Directors):

I am writing to alert you to a major study of the Federal government's public information dissemination laws, policies, programs, and practices which the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) is undertaking at the request of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (copy of Committee letter attached as well as NCLIS press release).

This study directly stems from findings and recommendations made in an earlier study NCLIS completed in March 2000 on the consequences of the Department of Commerce's planned closure of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and transfer of its programs and collections to the Library of Congress. If you would like to review more details on this matter, please consult our web site at http://www.nclis.gov/govt/assess/assess.html

Our Commission believes the subject involved-reforming public information dissemination policies and practices of the Federal government-is of keen interest to many Senate and House committees. If your committee wishes to "track" the study's progress, and perhaps make suggestions and recommendations, we invite you to identify an appropriate individual to serve as your committee's liaison to us for this purpose. Please furnish us with the individual's name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address.

We look forward to your interest in our study and welcome your participation, advice, and any assistance you might be willing to provide.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Willard
NCLIS Executive Director