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President Proposes Centralizing Federal Library Programs within IMLSPresident Bush’s budget for FY 2007 includes a proposal to integrate the National Center for Education Statistics’ program for public and state library statistics, along with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, into the Institute of Museum and Library Services beginning in 2008.American Library Association Washington Office Executive Director Emily Sheketoff noted that moving the statistics program from the Department of Education to IMLS—which she said has a proven track record as an “agency that cares deeply about us”—could be an improvement that ultimately helps libraries. “The critical issue is making sure the NCES library surveys continue,” she told American Libraries, explaining that Russ Whitehurst, director of the DOE’s Institute of Education Sciences, had told the Office of Management and Budget during the 2007 budget process that NCES would discontinue the program. IMLS said in a February 6 press release that it would work with NCES and NCLIS over the next few months to “ensure that the level of public service provided under the current system is not diminished.” The president’s proposal “is an opportunity to build a stronger, more powerful single agency that will support and raise awareness for library, culture, and information services,” the release stated. Posted February 10, 2006. |
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