To facilitate research and related activities in all units of the association, especially activities related to library statistics; to advise the council and executive board on programs, policy, and priorities regarding research and related activities; to recommend procedures to achieve expeditious consideration of all unit proposals for research and related activities by the executive board; to encourage the establishment of divisional committees for the purpose of stimulating research and statistics; to maintain liaison with all units of the association regarding research and related activities in the units; to identify questions regarding library service which need to be answered through research and promote the conduct of research to answer those questions; to review and make recommendations concerning national data collection efforts pertaining to libraries, recommending inclusions, definitions, procedures, and policies as appropriate; to serve as a base committee for liaisons from other associations and groups with shared concerns about library statistics; and to serve as an advisory committee for the office for research and statistics.