NCLIS FOIA Officer: Madeleine C. McCain, Director of Operations

What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. Section 552, is a federal law established in 1966 to give private citizens greater access to government information. It requires that federal agencies disclose the fullest possible amount of information to the public, subject to certain exemptions.

NCLIS Mission:
The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is an independent agency within the executive branch, established by P.L. 91-345 in 1970. The Commission advises the President and Congress on policy addressing the library and informational needs of the Nation. It is composed of fourteen members appointed by the President, with advice and consent of the Senate, to five-year term; the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Institute of Library and Museum Services also serve.

You may make a request by email or mail to:
Madeleine C. McCain, Director of Operations
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
1800 M Street, NW; Suite 350 North Tower
Washington, DC 20036-5841
Telephone: 202-606-9200
Fax: 202-606-9203

More recent NCLIS publications are on the NCLIS web site.
NCLIS publications are free of charge and can be obtained by contacting the office.

NCLIS Archive Records
From 2004-2006 the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) will be transferring permanent records to the National Archive and Records Administration (www.archives.gov) at College Park, Maryland. These records represent the past 34 years of NCLIS policy and program operations relating to library and information services. Records transferred as of June 2006 include:

• NCLIS publications from 1972 to present
• NCLIS Library Statistics Program background information, meeting minutes and program materials
• NCLIS Program Planning 1977 - 2000
• Subject Files, Executive Director & Deputy Director 1983 - 2002
• NCLIS Operations:
• budget files from mid 1970s to 2000
• legislation
• audiovisuals
• documents describing the backgroung
• legislation and creation of NCLIS
• program and strategic planning
• press releases
• international projects
• Commission meetings
• operational materials
• background files on major projects (i.e., Comprehensive Assessment, Kids and the Internet, Trust and Terror)

The Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. § 552 As Amended
Recent FOIA requests