U.S. Code > Title 20 Education > CHAPTER 34—NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE (§§ 1501—1506) > § 1504. Functions and powers

§ 1504. Functions and powers

(a) Advice to President and Congress; studies and surveys, plans; annual report
The Commission shall have the primary responsibility for developing or recommending overall plans for, and advising the appropriate governments and agencies on, the policy set forth in section 1501 of this title. In carrying out that responsibility, the Commission shall—
(1) advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of national policy by such statements, presentations, and reports as it deems appropriate;
(2) conduct studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and informational needs of the Nation, including the special library and informational needs of rural areas, of economically, socially, or culturally deprived persons, and of elderly persons, and the means by which these needs may be met through information centers, through the libraries of elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education, and through public, research, special, and other types of libraries;
(3) appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information resources and services and evaluate the effectiveness of current library and information science programs;
(4) develop overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs and for the coordination of activities at the Federal, State, and local levels, taking into consideration all of the library and informational resources of the Nation to meet those needs;
(5) be authorized to advise Federal, State, local, and private agencies regarding library and information sciences;
(6) promote research and development activities which will extend and improve the Nation’s library and information-handling capability as essential links in national and international communications and cooperative networks;
(7) submit to the President and the Congress (not later than January 31 of each year) a report on its activities during the preceding fiscal year; and
(8) make and publish such additional reports as it deems to be necessary, including, but not limited to, reports of consultants, transcripts of testimony, summary reports, and reports of other Commission findings, studies, and recommendations.
(b) Contract authority
The Commission is authorized to contract with Federal agencies and other public and private agencies to carry out any of its functions under subsection (a) of this section and to publish and disseminate such reports, findings, studies, and records as it deems appropriate.
(c) Hearings
The Commission is further authorized to conduct such hearings at such times and places as it deems appropriate for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
(d) Cooperation with other agencies
The heads of all Federal agencies are, to the extent not prohibited by law, directed to cooperate with the Commission in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.