Public Sector Private Sector Interaction In Providing Information Services

This report by the U.S. National Commission on Libraries & Information Science (NCLIS) evaluates national information policy, particularly as it relates to the dissemination of, & public access to, government information. The report deals with the fundamental issues in the interaction between the public & private sectors in providing information services; the contexts of conflict; findings of the NCLIS Public Sector/Private Sector Task Force; & principles & recommendations. The latter have to do with: leadership role for government; encouragement of private investment; government in commerce; & use of private sector information. Includes a section on implementation. Bibliography.

At a 2-day meeting in October 1982, the Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee (NAC) members discussed the complex issues involved in public and private sector interactions and their relationship to networking activities. The report, "Public Sector/Private Sector Interaction in Providing Information Services," prepared by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), Public Sector/Private Sector Task Force, was used as a core document. In addition, NAC commissioned a concept paper by Glyn Evans, Executive Director, SUNY/OCLC. Discussion groups were formed to explore how the principles and recommendations of the report to NCLIS related to special services provided by either a public or private sector agency. The groups concluded that while equity of access and preservation were of concern, these services could, with appropriate safeguards, be supplied by either sector. In addition to the report of the meeting, this document includes a list of the NAC members, an executive summary, and four appendices: (1) a background reading list; (2) a review and summary of the NCLIS task force report by Robert M. Hayes of the University of California, Los Angeles; (3) Glyn Evans' discussion paper; and (4) an outline of NAC actions on the NCLIS task force report. (DMC)