investigating the transmission of human
knowledge and to heighten public
interest in the role of books and printing
in the diffusion of knowledge. Drawing
on the resources of the Library of
Congress, the Center works closely with
other organizations to explore important
issues in the book and educational
communities, to encourage reading, and
to encourage research about books and
about reading. Its goal is to serve as a
useful catalyst by bringing together
authors, publishers, librarians,
booksellers, educators, scholars, and
readers to discuss common concerns and
work toward the solution of common
problems.

Except for basic administrative support
provided by the Library of Congress, the
Center and its activities are privately
funded. Over 130 citizens serve on its
National Advisory Board. Three
committees reflect its primary concerns:
the book in contemporary society,
nationally and internationally; reading
and book promotion; and the history of
books. Major Center for the Book
conferences have dealt with "Television,
the Book, and the Classroom," "Reading
in America," "The Textbook in American
Education," and "Public Lending Rights."
For further information, call 202-707-5221.
National Preservation Program The
Library provides technical information
related to the preservation and
restoration of library and archival
material. A series of leaflets on various
preservation and conservation topics has
been prepared by the Preservation
Office. Information and publications are
available from the National Preservation
Program Office, Library of Congress,
Washington, DC 20540. Phone, 202-
707-1840.

Sources of Information

Books for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped Talking and braille books
and magazines are distributed through
150 regional and subregional libraries to
blind and physically handicapped
residents of the United States and its
territories. Information is available at
public libraries throughout the United

States and from the headquarters office,
National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, Library of
Congress, 1291 Taylor Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20542. Phone, 202-
707-5100.

Cataloging Data Distribution
Cataloging and bibliographic information
in the form of printed catalog cards,
microfiche catalogs, book catalogs,
magnetic tapes, bibliographies, and other
technical publications is distributed to
libraries and other institutions. Kits
describing the procedure for ordering
materials are available from the
Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of
Congress, Washington, DC 20541.
Phone, 202-707-6171.

Library of Congress card numbers for
new publications are now assigned by
the Cataloging in Publication Division.
Direct inquiries to CIP Division, Library
of Congress, Washington, DC 20540.
Phone, 202-707-6372.

Contracts Persons seeking to do
business with the Library of Congress
should contact the Procurement and
Supply Division, Library of Congress,
Landover Center Annex, 1701 Brightseat
Road, Landover, MD 20785. Phone,
202-707-8717.

Copyright Service Information about
the copyright law (title 17 of the United
States Code), the method of securing
copyright, and registration procedures
may be obtained by writing to the
Copyright Office, Library of Congress,
Washington, DC 20559. Phone, 202-
707-8700. Registration application forms
may be ordered by calling the forms
hotline at 202-707-9100. Reports on
copyright facts found in the records of
the Copyright Office may be obtained for
a fee of $10 an hour; any member of the
public, however, may use without charge
the Copyright Card Catalog in the
Copyright Office. The Copyright Office is
located in Room LM-401, James
Madison Memorial Building, 101
Independence Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20540.

Employment Employment inquiries and
applications (on Standard Form 171,
Application for Federal Employment)
should be
cted to the Recruitment

and Placement Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the Employment Office, Room LM107, 101 Independence Avenue SE., where current vacancy announcements and application forms are available. A recorded announcement on 202-7075295 provides general information on the employment process.

Photoduplication Service Copies of manuscripts, prints, photographs, maps, and book material not subject to copyright and other restrictions are available for a fee. Order forms for photoreproduction and price schedules are available from the Photoduplication Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Phone, 202-707-5640. Publications A list of Library of Congress Publications in Print, many of which are of interest to the general public, is available free upon application to the Central Services Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. A monthly Calendar of Events, listing programs and exhibits at the Library of Congress, can be mailed regularly to persons requesting it from the same office.

Reference and Bibliographic Services Guidance is offered to readers in the identification and use of the material in the Library's collections, and reference service in answer to inquiries is offered to those who have exhausted local, State, and regional resources. Persons

requiring services that cannot be performed by the Library staff can be supplied with names of private researchers who work on a fee basis. Requests for information should be directed to the General Reading Rooms Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Phone, 202707-5522.

Research and Reference Services in Science and Technology Reference specialists in the Science and Technology Division answer without charge brief technical inquiries entailing a bibliographic response. Of special interest is a technical report collection exceeding 3 million titles. Most of these are in microform and are readily accessible for viewing in the Science Reading Room. Requests for reference service should be directed to the Science and Technology Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Phone, 202-707-5639.

An informal series of reference guides is issued by the Science and Technology Division under the general title LC Science Tracer Bullet. These guides are designed to help a reader locate published material on a subject about which he or she has only general knowledge. For a list of available titles, write to the Reference Section, Science and Technology Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Phone, 202-707-5580.

Director

Executive Assistant to the Director

Director, Congressional Affairs

Press Officer

JOHN H. GIBBONS

SUE BACHTEL

JAMES JENSEN

JEAN K. MCDONALD

The Office of Technology Assessment

(OTA) was created by the Technology

providing objective analyses of major public policy issues related to scientific and technological change. The Office began operations in January 1974.

The act specifies that OTA shall consist of a Technology Assessment Board, a Director, a Technology Assessment Advisory Council, and such other employees and consultants as may be necessary in the conduct of OTA's work.

The bipartisan 13-member Board includes six Senators appointed by the President pro tempore, six Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, and the Director of OTA, who is a nonvoting member. The Board selects a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among its members at the beginning of each Congress. The Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship alternate between the Senate and the House of Representatives with each Congress. The Director is appointed by the Board and serves a 6year term. The Director has full authority and responsibility for organizing and managing OTA's resources according to policies set by the Board.

The Technology Assessment Advisory Council comprises 10 public members eminent in science and technology. The Council is appointed by the Board and advises the Board and OTA on assessments and other matters. The Comptroller General of the United States and the Director of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress are also members.

The Office's assessments explore complex issues involving science and

technology, helping Congress resolve uncertainties and conflicting claims, identifying alternative policy options, and providing foresight or early alert to new developments that could have important implications for future Federal policy. Requests for assessments may be made by the chairman of any congressional committee acting for himself or on behalf of a ranking minority member, or a majority of committee members; by the OTA Board; or by the OTA Director, in consultation with the Board.

The Office's work centers on comprehensive assessments that may take 1 to 2 years to complete. It also draws upon its past and current work to provide a variety of responses to meet immediate congressional needs, such as briefings, testimony, and special reports.

Office assessment teams work closely with congressional staff and support agencies to ensure that major committee concerns are addressed and to stay in touch with the published work and current activities of analysts and researchers in the Executive branch and throughout the public and private interest sectors. Each project is guided by an advisory panel of experts on a particular subject as a way of ensuring that reports are objective, fair, and authoritative.

After approval for release by the Board, OTA assessment reports are distributed to the requesting committees, with summaries provided to all Members of Congress. The reports are available to the public through the Government Printing Office.

Phone, 202-226-2621

Director

Deputy Director

General Counsel

ROBERT D. REISCHAUER

ROBERT W. HARTMAN, Acting ALFRED B. FITT

STANLEY L. GREIGG

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was established by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 601), which also created a procedure by which the United States Congress considers and acts upon the annual Federal budget. This process enables the Congress to have an overview of the Federal budget and to make overall decisions regarding spending and taxing levels and the deficit or surplus these levels incur. Congress is provided with a mechanism through which it can weigh the priorities for national resource allocation and explicitly address issues of fiscal policy.

The Congressional Budget Office provides Congress with basic budget data and with analyses of alternative fiscal, budgetary, and programmatic policy issues.

Activities

The Congressional Budget Office has specific responsibility for the following functions and activities:

Economic Forecasting and Fiscal Policy Analysis The Federal budget both affects and is affected by the national economy. The Congress considers the Federal budget in the context of the current and projected state of the national economy. CBO therefore provides periodic forecasts and analyses of economic trends and alternative fiscal policies. Scorekeeping Under the budget process the Congress establishes, by concurrent resolution, targets (or ceilings) for overall expenditures, budget authority and budget outlays, and for broad functional categories. The Congress also establishes targets (or ceilings) for the

levels of revenues, the deficit, and the public debt. CBO “keeps score" for the Congress by monitoring the results of congressional action on individual authorization, appropriation, and revenue bills against the targets (or ceilings) specified in the concurrent resolution. Cost Projections The Congressional Budget Office prepares 5-year cost estimates for carrying out any public bill or resolution reported by congressional committees. As soon as practicable after the beginning of each fiscal year, CBO also provides 5-year projections on the costs of continuing current Federal spending and taxation policies. Annual Report on the Budget The Congressional Budget Office is responsible for furnishing the House and Senate Budget Committees by February 15 of each year with a report that includes a discussion of alternative spending and revenue levels and alternative allocations among major programs and functional categories, all in the light of major national needs and the effect on the balanced growth and development of the United States. Special Studies The Congressional Budget Office undertakes studies requested by the Congress on budgetrelated areas. As required by the establishing act, such service is provided in the following order of priority to: the House and Senate Budget Committees, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the Senate Finance and the House Ways and Means Committees, and all other congressional committees. Sequestration Report This advisory report is mandated by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901), which calls