Washington, DC. At its meeting on June 26 in Washington, DC, the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) adopted a resolution recognizing the important role that libraries play in the lives of America's children.

One matter of immediate and prime concern to the Commission is that children and youth, especially those from fractured and fragile families, need the stimulation, emotional support, and academic achievement that books and library programs provide.

The Commission's resolution expresses concern about the recent outbreak of children venting rage and anger by killing parents, teachers and schoolmates. In recognizing youth violence as a serious and frightening problem, NCLIS urges society -- community officials, educators, parents, role models, and so forth -- to support the efforts of libraries to assist adults, youth and children in seeking solutions to this outbreak of violence through the wise use of information. The resolution emphasizes that libraries can serve as the major delivery point toward better parenting and learning experiences for young children and for redirecting troubled older children and adolescents.

The full text of the resolution is attached.

The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public Law 91-345 to advise the President and Congress on national and international library and information policies and plans.