In addition, the Law Library serves a rapidly increasing number of remote users with electronic legal and legislative information through its web site, recording some 1.2 million digital transactions last year. With your support, the Law Library continues to enhance GLIN, a multinational legal database of official, current foreign law resources that is uniquely important to our government in the rapidly changing global economy. Full funding for GLIN is imperative to expand the number of participating nations to at least twenty in FY 2000, and to expand its content by digitizing more retrospective materials and adding new categories of specialized legal resources. This will permit the Law Library to continue to provide a high level of service and to increase remote access to unique digital legal information. Security Measures Mr. Chairman, we thank the Congress for its support of the Library's efforts to enhance the security of its collections and for its staff.
All libraries face significant challenges in ensuring the safety of their staff and collections.
But an additional nominal amount is required to both complement and complete these efforts. These additional monies should address remaining security concerns within the Library. The Library of Congress faces an unprecedented loss of talented staff through retirement. In addition, the Library has identified the need for a program to facilitate the promotion of technicians to professional positions. Support for the staff succession program is a critically important component of the Library's ability to effectively provide information services in the next century.