Washington, DC - The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) announced today that it is launching a baseline survey of U.S. participation in international forums that address major policy issues of importance to the library and information (LIS) communities. A key objective of the survey is to create a database that can be used as a research and reference tool to identify individuals and institutions participating in international LIS activities. The end-result sought is to sharpen, strengthen, extend and make more cost-effective both the collective and individual U.S. participation.

NCLIS Chairperson Jeanne Hurley Simon underscores the purpose for the survey by stating, "Information Age issues of concern to the United States are increasingly being debated in a wide variety of international arenas. These issues include intellectual property rights, privacy and confidentiality, security and encryption, economic and financial barriers to accessing the information superhighway, and many others. The U.S. library and information communities are, or should be, key players in all of these arenas."

NCLIS is sending letters to selected LIS schools, associations and individuals who are known to be active in various international forums and programs, alerting them to the survey and asking them for their support. NCLIS would welcome comments from anyone.

Survey respondents and others interested in the details of the survey should visit the NCLIS web site www.nclis.gov/libinter/internat.html .

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.