An Act to establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and for other purposes
PL 91-345 (S.1519), enacted 07/20/1970

440 
PUBLIC LAW 91-344-JULY 20, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
16 u s e 460/-4 
note. 
ment shall be consistent with any existing comprehensive statewide 
outdoor recreation plan found adequate for purposes of the Land 
and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (78 Stat. 897); and that 
such cost-sharing assistance for any such development shall be 
authorized only if the Secretary determines that it cannot be provided 
under other existing authority." 
Approved July 18, 1970. 
Public Law 91-344 
, 
„ 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
July 20, 1970 
[s. J. Res. 201] 
To extend the reporting date of the National Commission on Consumer Finance. 
Consumer Credit 
Protection Act, 
amendment. 
15 u s e 1601 
note. 
Resolved ty the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 404(b) of the 
Consumer Credit Protection Act (82 Stat. 165) is amended by striking 
out "January 1,1971" and inserting "July 1,1972" in lieu thereof. 
Approved July 20, 1970. 
July 20, 1970 
Public Law 91-345 
AN ACT 
[^' ^519] 
rpQ establish a National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and 
for other purposes. 
National Com-
mission on 
Libraries and In-
formation Science 
Act. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Commission on Libraries and Information 
Science Act". 
STATEMENT OF POLICY 
SEC. 2. The Congress hereby affirms that library and information 
services adequate to meet the needs of the people of the United States 
are essential to achieve national goals and to utilize most effectively 
the Nation's educational resources and that the Federal Government 
will cooperate with State and local governments and public and 
private agencies in assuring optimum provision of such services. 
COMMISSION ESTABLISHED 
SEC. 3. (a) There is hereby established as an independent agency 
within the executive branch, a National Commission on 
Libraries 
and Information Science (hereinafter referred to as the "Com-
mission"). 
(b) The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare shall pro-
vide the Commission with necessary administrative services (includ-
ing those related to budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, person-
nel, and procurement) for which payment shall be made in advance, 
or by reimbursement, from funds of the Commission and such amounts 
as may be agreed upon by the Commission and the Secretary of 
Health, Education, and Welfare. 
Studies, sur-
veys, etc. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-345-JULY 20, 1970 
441 
CONTRIBUTIONS 
SEC. 4. The Commission shall have authority to accept in the name of 
the United States grants, gifts, or bequests of money for immediate 
disbursement in furtherance of the functions of the Commission. Such 
grants, gifts, or bequests, after acceptance by the Commission, shall 
be paid by the donor or his representative to the Treasurer of the 
United States whose receipts shall be their acquittance. The Treasurer 
of the United States shall enter them in a special account to the credit 
of the Commission for the purposes in each case specified. 
FUNCTIONS 
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission shall have the primary responsibility 
for developing or recommending overall plans for, and advising the 
appropriate governments and agencies on, the policy set forth in sec-
tion 2. In carrying out that responsibility, the Commission shall— 
(1) advise the President and the Congress on the implementa- J^'^'^^'^^il^d 
tion of national policy by such statements, presentations, and congreTs.^" 
reports as it deems appropriate; 
(2) conduct studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and 
informational needs of the Nation, including the special library 
and informational needs of rural areas and of economically, 
socially, or culturally deprived persons, and the means by which 
these needs may be met through information centers, through the 
libraries of elementary and secondary schools and institutions of 
higher education, and through public, research, special, and other 
types of libraries; 
(3) appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library 
and informiation resources and services and evaluate the effective-
ness of current library and information science programs; 
(4) develop overall plans for meeting national library and 
informational needs and for the coordination of activities at the 
Federal, State, and local levels, taking into consideration all of 
the library and informational resources of the Nation to meet 
those needs; 
(5) be authorized to advise Federal, State, local, and private 
agencies regarding library and information sciences; 
(6) promote research and development activities which will 
extend and improve the Nation's library and 
information-
handling capability as essential links in the national communica-
tions networks; 
(7) submit to the President and the Congress (not later than 
Report to 
January 31 of each year) a report on its activities during the pre- congreTs. ^" 
ceding fiscal year; and 
(8) make and publish such additional reports as it deems to be 
necessary, including, but not limited to, reports of consultants, 
transcripts of testimony, summary reports, and reports of other 
Commission finding, studies, and recommendations. 
(b) The Commission is autlioi-ized to contract with Federal agencies ^^^"^^^^""^ 
and other public and private agencies to carry out any of its functions ^" °"*^' 
under subsection (a) and to publish and disseminate such reports, 
findings, studies, and records as it deems appropriate. 
(c) The Commission is further authorized to conduct such hearings 
Hearings. 
at such times and places as it deems appropriate for carrying out the 
purposes of this Act. 
(d) The heads of all Federal agencies are, to the extent not pro-
hibited by law, directed to cooperate with the Commission in carrying 
out the purposes of this Act. 
442 
PUBLIC LAW 91-345-JULY 20, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Appointments 
by President. 
Terms of office. 
Compensation, 
travel expenses. 
Ante, 
p. 198-1. 
80 Stat. 499; 
83 Stat. 190. 
Professional 
and technical 
personnel, ap-
pointment. 
80 Stat. 378. 
MEMBERSHIP 
SEC. 6. (a) The Commission shall be composed of the Librarian of 
Congress and fourteen members appointed by the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate. Five members of the Com-
mission shall be professional librarians or information specialists, 
and the remainder shall be persons having special competence or 
interest in the needs of our society for library and information services, 
at least one of whom shall be knowledgeable with respect to the tech-
nological aspects of library and information services and sciences. 
One of the members of the Commission shall be designated by the 
President as Chairman of the Commission. The terms of office of the 
appointive members of the Commission shall be five years, except that 
(1) the terms of office of the members first appointed shall commence 
on the date of enactment of this Act and shall expire two at the end 
of one year, three at the end of two years, three at the end of three 
years, three at the end of four years, and three at the eiid of five years, 
as designated by the President at the time of appointment, and (2) a 
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration 
of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 
only for the remainder ot such term. 
(b) Members of the Commission who are not in the regular full-time 
employ of the United States shall, while attending meetings or con-
ferences of the Commission or otherwise engaged in the business of the 
Commission, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the 
Chairman, but not exceeding the rate specified at the time of such 
service for grade GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, LTnited States Code, 
including traveltime, and while so serving on the business of the Com-
mission away from their homes or regular places of business, they may 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
employed intermittently in the Government service. 
(c) (1) The Commission is authorized to appoint, without regard to 
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, covering appointments in 
the competitive service, such professional and technical personnel as 
may be necessary to enable it to carry out its function under this Act. 
(2) The Commission may procure, without regard to the civil serv-
ice or classification laws, temporary and intermittent services of such 
personnel as is necessary to the extent authorized by section 3109 of 
title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the rate specified 
at the time of such service for grade GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, 
United States Code, including traveltime, and while so serving on the 
business of the Commission away from their homes or regular places 
of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United 
States Code, for persons employed intermittently in the Government 
service. 
AUTHORIZATION 
OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 7. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and $750,000 for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1971, and for each succeeding year, for the purpose 
of carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
Approved July 20, 1970.