Traces the development of the National Library of Canada, focusing on the significance of this history in the context of national development. Future issues facing the library are identified, and the inherent ambiguity of recognizing international standards while protecting a specific national heritage is discussed. (9 references) (Author/CLB)

This discussion guide on the conference theme, Library and Information Services for Improving Organizations and the Professions, focuses on the information needs of organizational and professional constituencies, including business. It is intended to serve as a guide for the discussion of issues raised in this theme area. Following a general…

Reviews the special problems of libraries and librarianship in developing countries, and the problems specific to the Arab speaking countries. Deficiencies in information policy formation, library planning and education, and government support of libraries are discussed; attempts to rectify the situation are described; and needed research is…

This paper briefly reviews the current status of government publications, including the local, state, and Federal levels, with particular attention to crucial problems of availability and accessibility to the public. It examines issues and proposed changes in government policy with respect to government documents, e.g., (1) Is there a need for a…

This report is the official record of an open forum on recommendations from the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services sponsored by the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), a federal agency charged with advising the President and the Congress on library and information policies and plans.…

Reviews information technology trends that relate to the collection, transfer, and dissemination of information and their implications for information policy; examines the roles of government and both public and private sectors in information policy formation; and suggests a broad course of action for citizen involvement. (CLB)

This essay explores the somewhat uneven course of the public library as a knowledge institution in America and its relevance during the current information age, particularly in the United States, where there is a basic connection between access to knowledge and the political system. The public library situation is considered in terms of the…

Examines the effects of safety nets (government information transfer mechanisms that guarantee minimum access to government information) on the ability of U.S. industries to compete internationally. The need for research that explores methods of improving information dissemination and the role of libraries and information centers in fostering…

Discussion of the proposed National Information Infrastructure (NII) focuses on the need for the NII to assist educational institutions, libraries, governments, and nonprofit organizations in carrying out their responsibilities for public access to information. New communications technologies are discussed; the role of librarians is examined; and…

This report contains summaries of papers presented at the annual forum of the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) of the Library of Congress. Introductory and special remarks were delivered by FLICC Executive Director Mary Berghaus Levering, Associate Librarian for Constituent Services of the Library of Congress Donald C.…

The Library of Congress hosted a 1-day conference, "Delivering Electronic Information in a Knowledge-Based Democracy" to explore the public policy framework essential to creating electronic information resources and making them broadly available. Participants from a variety of sectors contributed to wide-ranging discussions on issues…