1. Panel Reports Posted

Three of the four panel reports were posted during the week, and the fourth should be posted for public review and comment by no later than Tuesday, October 24th. The reports have also been distributed to the Board of Experts (14 individuals) for their review and comment, based on their particular interests and expertise. Since the full NCLIS Commission is meeting November 14/15 in Washington, D.C., and since the study will be the main topic to be addressed by the Commission, reviewers are being asked to kindly furnish their comments to the Commission by no later than November 14th. That does not mean that comments cannot be received after that date. It only means that it would be very helpful to the Commission’s deliberative processes if the Experts, stakeholder groups, library and information associations, public interest groups, and so on, could provide at least their major comments as soon as practicable.

2. The NTIS Situation

Commission representatives met with Commerce officials during this period and expressed the growing concern on the part of many public communities that are heavily dependent on NTIS information, at the steady loss of professional direct-hire NTIS staff. NCLIS Chairperson Gould sent a letter to Secretary Mineta during this period outlining those concerns, and suggesting that the Department consider actions to stem that continuing loss, including allowing NTIS to hire some additional direct-hire staff even though the Department has not changed its official position to close and transfer the agency. A copy of that letter is posted to the study web page. It is the Commission’s understanding that Commerce is considering the matter now. Meanwhile, it is not clear if the Library of Congress is preparing to accept the transfer of the NTIS mission, functions, and resources, as indicated in the August 1999 Commerce announcement. Therefore, the Commission will continue to monitor the situation very carefully as it becomes even more critical. Articles critical of the Commerce position continue to appear in the media.

3. NCLIS Commission to Meet November 14/15, 2000 in Washington, D.C.

The full Commission will meet in Washington, D.C. November 14/15, 2000. All four panel chairs have been invited, and have accepted the Commission’s invitation to appear at the meeting and deliver oral reports highlighting the findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in their final reports. They will also be asked to comment on the process involved, and other matters they believe are relevant to their panel deliberations. The Commissions will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions directed to clarifying or amplifying the panel findings and recommendations. The Commission will also consider policy matters related to the panel findings and recommendations, and will address the final steps in the overall study process, leading to the drafting, posting, review, and production of the Commission’s final “integrated” (consolidated) report to the President and the Congress. Questions related to this meeting may be directed to Barbara Whiteleather at (202) 606-9200.

4. Related Studies

Several studies closely related to the Commission’s study are moving along parallel tracks, or have already been published. For example:

• The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) commissioned report authored by Joseph E. Stiglitz, Peter R. Orszag, and Jonathan M. Orszag, entitled “The Role of government In A Digital Age” was published October 12, 2000. Inquiries should be directed to CCIA (202) 783-0070, and the report can be viewed online at: http://www.ccianet.org/digitalgovstudy/main.html

NCLIS has been advised that a limited number of hard copies are available at no charge. Jonathan Orszag, study participants may recall, was the senior Commerce official in place when the NTIS closure and transfer matter was first announced, but has since left government for private industry.

• The General Accounting Office (GAO) is proceeding on course with its two related studies. The first study, requested by Congresswoman Morella and Congressman Davis, is aimed specifically at studying NTIS financing, product lines, and related considerations. The second, requested by the Appropriations Conference Committee, is aimed at studying the transfer of the Superintendent of Documents mission and operations from the Government Printing Office to the Library of Congress. The first study is still in the data collection phase. The second study’s final report is due in March 2000.