This is the first of two volumes of written testimony presented to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) at its Mid-Atlantic States Regional Hearing held May 21, 1975 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Statements are provided by public, academic, research, special, regional, state, and school librarians, as well as by information scientists, congressmen, educators, and officials of associations, library schools, commercial information services, and state and local governments. The majority of the testimony is in response to the second draft report of NCLIS and touches upon such subjects as the national program, networks, the need for funding, reaching the non-user, the role of the library, information and referral services, standards, bibliographic control, the role of government at all levels, education of librarians, information needs, new technology, services to children, library cooperation and shared resources, categorical aid programs, copyright and copying, the White House conference, and the role of Library of Congress. Witnesses represent the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. (LS)