United States Environmental Protection Agency Information Resources Management (PM-211D) November 1991 v>EPA Public Information Center PIC FOCUS Public Access to Environmental Information Through EPA's Public Information Center (PIC) THE NEW PIC: A SHOWCASE FOR EPA MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTS One of the special features of the new, improved Public Information Center will be its emphasis on displaying information in multimedia formats, including video- tapes and computer data- bases. Suzanne Annand of EPA's Information Access Branch is assembling a variety of EPA-produced videos and databases to showcase in PIC's new facility. Some of the videos that Suzanne has collected are "Big Apple, Hot Apple," a documentary of an EPA emergency removal of radio- active and toxic waste from a site in Queens, New York; and "Estuary", a video that presents the ecological and human significance of estuaries. "Overview of the United States Environmental Protection Agency" shows how EPA operates, and "Pollution Prevention" describes some of the benefits for companies that reduce pollution. PIC will also have several computer terminals that visitors can use to access databases containing EPA data and bibliographic infor- mation. Already planned for The new PIC will showcase EPA videos and databases. inclusion at PIC are the Information Systems Inventory, which contains summary information on approximately 500 of EPA's databases and models; PEST-BANK, a set of commercial databases that covers 45,000 U.S. registered pesticides used in agriculture and industry; and Tree Game, developed by EPA's Region 1 as an educational tool for children. These are just a sampling of videos and databases that will be on display at the new PIC. However, we need more. So if your office has produced, or will produce in the near future, videos or databases containing information suitable for the public, including researchers, consumers, students, and others, please contact Suzanne Annand of the Information Access Branch, at 260-8298. "We need to emphasize better outreach to affected constituencies and develop new modes of working with other federal agencies, states and localities, governments abroad, and our many other partners." - From EPA's Meeting the Environmental Challenge. December 1990. INFORMATION ACCESS BRANCH FTS (202) 260-8710 Clearinghouses Databases Dockets Libraries Publications Records ------- PlC SUCCESS STORY : Last month’s issue of PIG FOCUS gave an overview of the Government Printing Office (GPO). The GPO publications sales program embraces only a fraction of the titles issued by government agencies. To ensure public access to a wealth of information, the Gov- ernment Printing Office administers the Federal Depository Library Program. Each year nearly 1,400 Depository Librar- ies select titles relevant to their local needs from the thousands of new publications issued by the Federal Government and its agencies. More than 50 Regional Depository Libraries receive every unclassified govern- ment publication of interest to the public and retain them permanently, in either paper copy, microfiche, or CD-ROM. Federal Depository Libraries are open to all who wish to visit and use their collections. Users can also take advantage of reference assistance and other services that may be available. For more information about the Depository Libraries, please contact: Media Coordinator, Stop SM Federal Depository Library Program U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402 For a list of the 50 Regional Federal Depository Libraries contact PIG at 260-2080. The next issue of PlC FOCUS will cover the services of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in this column. For more information, please contact Ann Dugan, Public Access Librarian, (Contractor), at 260-5935. PlC, EPA Publications and Information Center. and Your Program Office; Perfect Together PlC has successfully installed EPA’s Master Automated Inventory System (MAIS), developed by OARM-Cincinnati. MAIS allows PlC staff to electronically process bulk orders of documents stored at the EPA Publications and Information Center (EPIC) in Cincinnati. PlC uses MAIS to browse an inventory of over 31,000 EPA document titles. Through MAIS, staff can order documents to fill bulk requests, send documents directly to EPA staff at conferences, and restock PlC’s supply of documents. 191 PlC works with EPA programs and EPIC to coordinate storage of documents at the clearinghouse in Cincinnati. The documents can either be placed in PlC’s account or in your office’s account. For details about establishing an account with EPIC, contact Earl Eastwood or Deborah McNealley at FTS 684-7980. For more information on distribution of your general-interest documents through PlC, please call Alison Cook, PlC Manager, (Contractor), at FTS 260-2080. PlC FOCUS Page 2 PU BLO C ACCESS UPDATE The Public Information Center is operated by LABAT-ANDERSON Incorporated (LAI) through EPA’s Information Services Contract. If you have comments or sugges- tions about PlC FOCUS, please contact Kevin Rosseel, PlC Director, (Contractor), at 260-1755. Printed on Recycled Paper ------- |