Concluding Statement

The National Library of Education stands ready to be both a showcase for the information services of the U.S. Department of Education and a demonstration of the remarkable effectiveness of national partnerships to improve American education. At the same time it will demonstrate how an effective virtual library is established and operated. The vision for the Library can best be realized if the recommendations contained in this report are accepted and implemented.

As a virtual library and a distributed partnership, the National Library of Education will not only be an effective component of the U.S. Department of Education but will become the major vehicle for implementing the National Information Infrastructure in the educational community-America's schools, colleges and universities, learning centers, and libraries. Through it the work pioneered by programs such as the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) will be enhanced and expanded into a truly comprehensive resource for locating and using information about education.

It is essential that adequate funds be requested, authorized, and appropriated in order for the National Library of Education to develop into a national resource worthy of its vision. These funds should be accompanied by the authority to be organized and to operate in the manner proposed by the recommendations in this report.

Members of the National Library of Education Advisory Task Force are available, individually and collectively, to provide clarification of this report and assistance in its implementation.
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[Accountability Recommendations]

[Appendix A:National Library of Education - Past and Current Programs]