NCLIS Concerned About IMLS Consolidation

-- Library Journal, 11/14/2006

The independent U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) has previously opposed the proposed consolidation of NCLIS into the Institute of Museum and Libraries Services (IMLS), an executive agency, and some NCLIS members have expressed new concerns. The consolidation, which would eliminate an agency with a budget of about $1 million, was suggested in the Bush Administration's FY07 budget—which hasn't yet been passed, though the fiscal year begins in October—and would begin October 1, 2007. "We in August voted to reject the draft plan as it was presented to us," NCLIS chair Beth Fitzsimmons told LJ. "We expected to have more consideration of our concerns." She said she wanted to see the other 25 comments submitted to IMLS but had trouble getting them, going so far as to file a Freedom of Information Act request. Mamie Bittner, the IMLS director of public and legislative affairs, on Friday told LJ that the comments had been mailed to Fitzsimmons more than a week earlier, and wasn't aware of the FOIA request. Fitzimmons said she was puzzled by that, since she hadn't received the comments.

"Our particular concern is the fact that we are a permanent and independent agency. We respond both to Congress and the president," Fitzsimmons said. "I could envision some type of consolidation where that would be considered, but I want to see if that's of concern to the public." The American Library Association Executive Board had stressed the importance of certain activities, such as, "The ability of the IMLS and its Library Division to respond directly and independently to a Congressional inquiry or request, without having to go through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). That ability must be guaranteed in legislation." Comments filed by ALA, generally supportive of the consolidation, did not mention that issue, but Emily Sheketoff, executive director of ALA's Washington Office, said, "That sentence is not in comments filed August 31, but we have given the Board's statement to Congressional staff, if there is to be legislation."

Said Fitzsimmons, "I'm not against the consolidation, it's just that I want to have it done in the right way." Another commissioner, José Aponte, director of the San Diego County library, expressed outright opposition. "It's undermining a permanent statutory agency with over 40 years of history as an independent voice for libraries." He pointed out that IMLS is headed in alternate four-year terms by someone from the library community and then from the museum community. "What I would like is a good professional discourse between IMLS and NCLIS," he said.