Update on the Proposed Closure of the NTIS - National Technical Information Service - Brief Article

Information Outlook, May, 2000

The U.S. National Commission of Libraries and Information Science www.nclis.gov has produced a report to Congress on the proposed closure of National Technical Information Service (NTIS). SLA supports the overall findings of the report, which calls for careful consideration of the agency's role in preservation and dissemination of scientific and technical information.

Officials in Congress apparently are seeking more detailed information on the exact costs of fulfilling NTIS's mission to the public, so that alternatives for the short-term may be considered. Ultimately, though, Congress must look at the long-range issues of access to government information across the spectrum, since NTIS is only a portion of this universe. If you'd like to become involved more directly in the consultative process with Congress, we need your help!