Strong Leadership Needed to Address Serious Information Technology Management Weaknesses at Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, whose mission is to make its resources available and useful to Congress and the American public. In carrying out its mission, the Library increasingly relies on information technology systems, particularly in light of the ways that digital technology has changed the way information is created, shared, and preserved. To carry out its work, the Government Accountability Office reviewed Library regulations, policies, procedures, plans, and other relevant documentation for each area of management at the library and interviewed key library officials. GAO is recommending that the Library expeditiously hire a permanent Chief Information Officer. GAO is also making 30 other recommendations to the Library aimed at establishing and implementing key IT management practices. The Library generally agreed with GAO's recommendations and described planned and ongoing actions to address them.