[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5112]


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

36 CFR Part 701

[Docket No. LOC 00-1]


Information About the Library

AGENCY: Library of Congress.

ACTION: Final regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Library of Congress issues this final regulation to revise 
Library of Congress Regulation 1210 on information about the Library. 
The revised regulation will now refer interested parties to the Public 
Affairs Office instead of the Information Office. This revision also 
clarifies the procedures with regard to relations with representatives 
of the press, radio, television, and other public-information media.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 6, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth A. Pugh, General Counsel, 
Office of the General Counsel, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 
20540-1050. Telephone No. (202) 707-6316.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this regulation (36 CFR 
701.4) is to identify who at the Library of Congress (1) is the 
principal contact for representatives of the media; (2) gives advice to 
Library officers and staff members on public-relations and public-
information matters; keeps the Librarian and other officers informed of 
developments in this field; and (4) promotes the resources and 
activities of the Library.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 701

    Libraries, Seals and insignia.

    In consideration of the foregoing the Library of Congress amends 36 
CFR part 701 as follows:

PART 701--PROCEDURES AND SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for part 701 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 2 U.S.C. 136; 18 U.S.C. 1017.

    2. Section 701.4 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 701.4  Information about the Library.

    (a) Information about the Library. It is the Library's policy to 
furnish freely information about the Library to the media. All requests 
from the media, for other than generally published information and 
Library records, should be referred to the Public Affairs Office.
    (b) Public Affairs Office. The Public Affairs Office shall have the 
principal responsibility for responding to requests for information 
about the Library from representatives of the media; giving advice to 
Library officers and staff members on public-relations and public-
information matters; keeping the Librarian and other officers informed 
of important developments in this field; and promoting the resources 
and activities of the Library.
    (1) During regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) telephone 
operators shall refer requests for information, from the media only, 
about the Library to the Public Affairs Office. All other requests for 
information shall be referred to the National Reference Service or 
other appropriate offices of the Library.
    (2) All other Library offices and staff members who receive 
inquiries directly from representatives of the media for information 
about the Library, other than generally published information, shall 
refer such inquiries to the Public Affairs Office.
    (3) The Public Affairs Office shall respond directly to inquiries 
concerning the Library, calling upon other offices to supply 
information to it as necessary, or shall arrange for other offices or 
staff members, as appropriate, to supply such information directly and 
report back to Public Affairs after the contact has been made. Requests 
for Library of Congress records, however, shall be made in accordance 
with 36 CFR Part 703.
    (4) When the Public Affairs Office is closed (evenings, Saturdays, 
Sundays, and holidays), requests from the media for information about 
the Library shall be referred to the Public Affairs Officer at his/her 
home. In the event that person is not available, inquiries shall be 
referred to the Acting Public Affairs Officer, or, in turn, a 
designated public affairs specialist.
    (c) Other Library Units and Staff Members. All Other Library Units 
and Staff Members shall be responsible for keeping the Public Affairs 
Office fully and promptly informed of contacts with the press, except 
in those instances of routine reference inquiries; supplying the Public 
Affairs Office with any data it requires in order to respond to 
inquiries from representatives of the media; and reporting promptly to 
the Public Affairs Office substantive contacts with media 
representatives about the Library and its policies or activities.

    Dated: February 25, 2000.

    Approved by:
James H. Billington,
The Librarian of Congress.
[FR Doc. 00-5112 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-04-P