Book Description

The 1994 Forum on Library and Information Services was planned to provide an opportunity to explore the role of libraries in the evolving information and communications infrastructure. This report on the proceedings of the Forum begins with the agenda and a list of the participants. Two roles of the Department of Education relating to libraries and the Internet/National Information Infrastructure (NII) are then examined. The next three sections are structured around: (1) the federal perspective; (2) the state, local, and institutional perspective; and (3) measuring the value of information services. Each session is divided into four parts: panel presentations with a moderator; discussants who offer comments on the panel presentations and the topic; open group discussion; and a summation to identify issues and needed actions. The report concludes with a review and evaluation of the forum highlighting implications of development and changes in library and information services for data collection and analyses, and a luncheon presentation on implementing the Institute for Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Education. Four appendices present a draft of a statement on libraries and the NII for public comment; descriptions of the Louisiana Libraries Network Project and the Blacksburg (Virginia) Electronic Village; and a summary of a current study of the costs and beneficial impacts of library functions. (JLB)