Helping libraries improve access to information with cost-effective Library of Congress bibliographic products and services is a high priority for Peter R. Young.
Mr. Young, the former executive director of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from 1990 to 1997 became chief of the Library's Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) on June 2.
Associate Librarian for Library Services Winston Tabb said, "We are very fortunate to have a person as knowledgeable as Peter at the helm of CDS as it enters a new phase of service to the library and information communities." The new phase involves streamlining the 95-year-old division and moving it toward full cost-recovery status.
"I am excited to be returning to the Library, and I am very enthusiastic about returning to CDS at this critical time," Mr. Young said. In 1980-84, he was customer services officer for the division, and in 1984, he was assistant chief of the MARC Editorial Division. From 1985 to 1988, he served as chief of the Copyright Cataloging Division.
Previously, he directed public services for the Rice University libraries in Houston (1974-76) and administered operations of the municipal library system for Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public Library (1978).
"Fundamental changes in information technology have occurred in the past 20 years, and those changes are having a profound effect on libraries," he said. Mr. Young noted that during the first 60 years of the century, libraries depended upon LC's catalog cards for standardized collection access. Then, in the late 1960s, the rate of change accelerated. By 1968 the Library had developed Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) and began distributing MARC records on tape. In 1988 many MARC records could be purchased from CDS on CD-ROM, and then in 1993, could be delivered on the Internet via file-transfer-protocol (FTP). Also in 1993, the Library made its online catalog available for public access via the Internet.
"I hope to help position CDS to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that technology offers libraries for improving access to information. Positioning CDS within the emerging electronic information environment is consistent with LC's mission. Just as LC makes its resources available and useful to Congress and the American people, CDS helps improve information access through its products and services. Librarians in all types of libraries are teaching patrons how to locate and use information that may not be contained within the library's collections. CDS products and services can assist these new, technology-intensive library activities. Also, in light of recent emphasis on results-oriented services from federal agencies, CDS offers an opportunity to demonstrate both success and accountability to its customers and constituents," Mr. Young said.
As former executive director of NCLIS, Mr. Young is familiar with the key policy issues in library and information science. In that role, he provided support and direction for the commission, which is an independent executive branch federal agency established in 1970 with 16 members appointed by the president to advise the president and Congress on national policies relating to libraries and information services. On May 7 the commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution expressing "deep appreciation and strong admiration for [Mr. Young's] many valuable and noteworthy contributions."
New Phase of Service
Even before the new chief arrived, as early as 18 months ago, CDS's transition toward more effective operation was under way. The plan has involved staff reductions from 91 positions to 48. Staff members in affected positions have either been reassigned to other LC positions through the reduction-in-force process or have left through attrition. Significant technology-based changes are also part of the CDS transition, including transfer of the management information system for nearly 30,000 customers from mainframe to client/server technology.
Mr. Young succeeds CDS Chief Tyrone J. Mason, who retired Jan. 3, 1997, after serving 36 years at the Library -- the final 19 months of which were as acting chief, then chief of CDS.
He received his A.B. degree in Liberal Arts (philosophy) from the College of Wooster (June 1966) and a master's degree in Library Science from Columbia University's School of Library Science (June 1968). He served as a film-library specialist with the 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army (September 1968-September 1970) and was awarded three bronze star medals for meritorious achievement directing a Special Services Library in Cu Chi, Vietnam. An active member of the American Library Association, Mr. Young has served on committees of the Library Information Technology Association, Library Administration and Management Association, Resources and Technical Services Division and the Public Library Association. His many articles and speeches reflect a wide range of knowledge about the changing role of librarianship and the national information infrastructure, and this knowledge has been reflected in his keynote addresses and presentations.
