Rep. Stephanie Bice on Digitizing Library of Congress Services to Save $4 Million

Cost Savings Through Digitization

• 💡 Digitizing Library of Congress services, specifically replacing the print version of the Constitution Annotated Conan with a digital-only format, could reduce operating costs by $4 million over several years.
• 📌 The Library has already hosted Conan online since 2019, making it searchable, accessible, and updated in real-time by CRS.
• ⚠️ Despite digital availability, printing hard copies is still required by statute, leading to significant expenses.

Modernizing Printing and Publishing

• 🚀 The Library is shifting from traditional offset printing to digital inkjet technology for routine documents, which is more economical per copy.
• 📊 This transition allows for greater automation and cost reduction, regardless of print volume.
• 📈 Technologies like digital inkjet are being adopted to replace older offset presses, especially for documents like the Congressional Record and Federal Register.

AI Implementation in Operations

• 🧠 The Library is exploring artificial intelligence for various use cases, including drafting contract terms for acquisitions professionals.
• 🛠️ AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are being used for administrative tasks, such as summarizing annual reviews and drafting contract language, though human oversight remains crucial.
• 🎯 AI is also being considered to assist with cataloging activities for the federal depository library program, freeing up librarians for more complex tasks.
• ✅ The goal is to use AI to handle rudimentary tasks, allowing staff to focus on higher-value work.