WHEREAS:

Federal libraries and document depositories and their information resources are key components of the information infrastructure of the United States; and

WHEREAS:

Federal libraries and librarians are integral, basic parts of the agencies they serve, providing vital support to decision maker and policy staff, as well as information services to the general public; and

WHEREAS:

Federal libraries for more than two decades have worked cooperatively with private sector contractors to furnish continuous, stable, cost-effective library service; and

WHEREAS:

Executive Order 12615, issued in November 1987, requires federal agencies by June 30, 1988, to identify and schedule for review all activities defined commercial in Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76; and

WHEREAS:

The Office of Management and Budget currently is revising Circular A-76 to permit contracting out of activities with fewer than 45 employees without any cost comparison between government and private sector operation affecting more than 90 percent of federal libraries; and

WHEREAS:

Circular A-76 has no provision to limit contracting of vital federal government information resources to U.S. firms and organizations; and

WHEREAS:

The U.S. subsidiary of a foreign firm now operates a major departmental library and is scheduled to assume operation of a major federal government scientific and technical library; and

WHEREAS:

The Appropriations Committee of the United States Senate has declared that federal libraries and documents depositories with direct research, information development, database management, information dissemination, and policy support roles perform functions that, are inherently governmental.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the Congress of the United States to bar further contracting out of federal libraries and document depositories to enhance accountability, government efficiency and national security; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the Office of Management and Budget to remove library operations from the A-76 list of commercial activities and the list of fourteen activities targeted for A-76 review throughout the government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the President's Commission on Privatization to omit libraries and government document depositories from activities recommended for privatization; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chairman of the President's Commission on Privatization.

SUBMITTED BY:

Raymond H. Markey, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1930, Council 37
New York