This state-of-the-art has been conducted as Phase I of an investigation of the Federal Library Committee, Task Force on the Role of Libraries in Information Systems. The purpose of this review is to determine from the literature the role of the library in relation to other information activities in federal agencies based in the Washington, D.C. area which deal with scientific and technological information within the last ten years. Traditionally the library has been the repository of printed information and has assumed the responsibility for its acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination; however, since World War II, and more particularly in the last ten years other information activities have largely taken over some of the old functions. In order to establish the roles of the library and federal information activities and discover the reasons for the development of separate facilities, these topics appearing in the literature are examined: definitions, functions, objectives, organization, financial base, services, personnel and the user. Analysis and interpretation of the data reveals that the library is a major element within a more comprehensive network or system and that the nature of the information handling problem has become so complex that no one element can hope to provide total service and control. A two-part bibliography of 208 items, arranged alphabetically and classified, supplements the text. (Author/JB)