The last full review of the NAL took place almost twenty years ago. Therefore, the Panel evaluated the NAL's performance, not only as an agency library for USDA, but especially with respect to its 1990 statutory mandate as a national library. Based on user surveys, the panel assessed how well U.S. citizens, whether farmer, researcher or policy maker, are being provided with the agricultural information they need to make informed decisions, either through the NAL or other means. We have taken the parameter of "agriculture" to be inclusive of its numerous and sometimes largely unrecognized related fields. The importance of agriculture as it relates to the world food supply, the health of the nation's citizens, and its place in the nation's economy are hardly news to USDA, but the relationship of information to these aspects and NAL's role in providing this information to the country are unappreciated at many different levels.