Before I present my summary of this very important report, there may be those present who are wondering, what is this thing called the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science? I will take a few lines to describe the Commission. The most recent and best description of the work of the Commission can be found in the 1982-83 Annual Report of the National Commission which states the following:"Since its establishment in 1970, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science has worked with Congress, the executive branch, and the entire library and information community to develop policies and plans to meet the library and information needs of the people of the United States. During its first ten years of service, the Commission worked to identify the libray and information needs of the American people and to define national goals, policies, and plans for library and information services. The culmination of that decade was the landmark White House Conference on Library and Information Services in 1979. This event and the many other specific accomplishments of the Commission's first ten years are discussed in its annual report for 1980-81, subtitled "A Decade of Accomplishment."" NCLIS is directed by its enabling legislation (P. L. 91-345) to advise and assist the executive and legislative branches and the library/information community. In addition to these ongoing responsibilities, the Commission established for itself three major program objectives as it began its second decade of service:The development of specifications for library legislation, improving the dissemination of federal information, and improving library and information services through resource sharing and applications of technology.
Provides an historical perspective for the fight for diversity in US libraries, defining diversity, describing the changing demographics and discussing problems of implementing diversity. The lack of diversity in middle management posts in the US Government is noted. Work within the American Library Association, including recruiting initiatives and the Spectrum Initiative, a Diversity Fair, the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Library Service to Minorities are described. Concludes with examples of services provided by public libraries and considers prospects for the future.
While "The State of Diversity" is primarily designed to provide an examination of what is b e i i Qne to implement cultural diversity in Libraries, it also attemps to m e r several questions related to aEimative action and the characteristics of successful diversity programs.
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