United States Government Printing Office
Washington, DC 20401

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC PRINTER

March 15, 2000

The Honorable Martha Gould
Chair
U.S. National Commission on Libraries
and Information Science
1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 820
Washington, DC 20005-3552

Dear Martha:

This responds to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) staff request for comment on the "Preliminary Assessment of the Department of Commerce Proposal to Close the National Technical Information Service and Transfer its Collections and Functions to the Library of Congress."

As you know, last fall I appeared before the House Subcommittee on Technology and the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space in hearings on the planned closure of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). I proposed that, instead of closing NTIS, Congress consider transferring its functions to the Government Printing Office (GPO). I made this offer based on the similarities in information dissemination functions between GPO and NTIS and the benefits that would be likely to result from the transfer.

My position on the future of NTIS, should Congress proceed with the Administration's plan to close it-as appears evident from President's budget for FY 2001-remains the same as what I proposed last fall. We are willing to work with Congress and the Department of Commerce to implement my offer if that is the direction they choose. Otherwise, in view of my previous testimony before Congress, I believe it would be inappropriate for me to take any other position on this matter.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL F. DIMARIO
Public Printer