Hearing on "U.S.-China Trade Impacts on the U.S. Defense Industrial Base"
Opening Statement of Larry Wortzel
Commissioner and Cochair
June 23, 2005
Washington, DC
Good Morning. Today’s hearing will look at the Library of Congress Chinese collections. The depth and breadth of the Library of Congress holdings in general is cosmic on scale. The Chinese language holdings are just one category of foreign language holdings that add to the vast English language collections. The Chinese language holdings themselves must encompass the 4000-year written history of China, which is cosmic in and of itself.
This long history is filled with varieties of literature, poetry, and documents on statecraft that are, as they should be represented in the Library of Congress’ collection. Additionally, more modern Chinese documents, obviously cover disciplines ranging from medical science to engineering to contemporary art. All of which must also be represented in the Library of Congress and rightfully are represented in the collections. These are all topics that are of interest to the general public, scholarly researchers, and the Congress.
But what we are concerned with today is whether are not the Library’s Chinese collections are meeting policymakers’ need to understand Chinese perspectives on economics, military theory, and present day security risks that are critical to maintaining U.S. national security vis-à-vis China’s goals toward the United States. It is specifically these national security risks that impact on the very survival of our nation. What concerns me is that several studies, including that of Commissioner Teufel Dreyer, describe holes in the Library’s contemporary periodicals and books dealing with Chinese military and security issues. Additionally, studies point to larger organizational, cataloguing, and acquisition issues. We will learn today what holes remain to be filled.
Today’s first panel includes Dr. Carolyn T. Brown and Dr. Hwa-wei Lee of the Library of Congress. Dr. Brown is the Director of Collections and Services and received her PhD in Chinese Literature. Dr. Lee is the Chief of the Asian Division and has more than 40 years of experience in academic libraries.
Thank you for joining us. I look forward to your testimony.