United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211D)
Issue Number 5
May 1991
wEPA info access
Library Network Communications
Your Mission, If You
Accept It...
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD
Professor White invited me to speak
to his special libraries class conducted
in Cincinnati through the Indiana
University Graduate Extension
Program. He asked me to speak as a
representative from a government
library.
My presentation centered around one
theme: to understand the library you
have to understand the organization.
I gave a brief overview of the EPA
organization and discussed the
importance of aligning the library's
mission to the organization.
In preparing the presentation I tried to
include practical information for
future librarians. I offered them the
following tips:
a Know your organization's mission
and goals: Align the library's goals
with those of the organization.
~	Know the budget cycle.
~	Conduct business as your
managers do: Submit regular
reports.	.. ,
~	Develop strategies to make the
library integral to the organization.
~	Identify program needs and
develop special collections and
services to meet those needs.
~	Promote the library through
outreach activities. ~
The Value of Information:
A conversation with Herbert S. White.
Herbert White is a leading authority on library and information management. He
is a Distinguished Professor at the School of Library and Information Sciences at
Indiana University, and the author of more than 150 books and articles on the
topic of library administration, supervision, and library automation. Mr. White is
currently a candidate for President of the American Library Association. Jonda
Byrd, Manager of the EPA Library Network Program, conducted this interview for
INFOACCESS.
Q What is the value of information
services to an organization?
A The value of information to any
organization has been accepted for
many years. Information is the key to
proper decisions and to effective
actions. Indeed, it is now generally
accepted that ours is an information
society, and it is the cultures and the
nations with the best information
systems that will succeed.
Q As information professionals, how
do we communicate the cost of
information to management?
A The cost of information is only
significant within the context of what
the alternatives are. One alternative is
ignorance, and I have already
suggested that this alternative is not
acceptable in any society or organiza-
tion as a conscious decision.
The other alternative concerns the
true measurement of information
costs. Many information costs are
"invisible" but nevertheless real,
when it means that individuals un-
qualified to undertake information
searches and highly paid do so, and
the fact that this cost is not attributed
as an information cost does not make
it any smaller. Therefore, the
important question concerning
information cost does not only affect
the visible and formal cost of the
specific information structure, but
all of the underground costs that
can be generated when the estab-
lished information service does not
Continued on page 2
See the attached
April 25, 1991 testimony of
Alvin Pesachowitz, Director,
Office of Information Resources
Management, to the Joint
Committee on Printing
		
Printed on Recycled Paper

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OLS Milestones
1970
—ir
1971
T-
1972
—w
EPA is
established
EPA Library Network
Is established
EPA begins to Investigate
options for an online system

May 1991 Issue
Library's Mission	pg. 1
Interview with Herbert White	pg. 1
Contract Management Award...pg. 2
Survey of OLS Use	pg. 3
OLS thru NTIS	pg. 4
Access to EPA Pubs 	pg. 4
EPA and M-Link	pg. 5
PIC Publications	pg. 5
OLS in a Regional Library	pg. 6
Around the Network	pg. 6
CAS Numbers	pg. 7
Chemical Collection System	pg. 7
Directory of Special Collection
Librarians	pg. 8
INFOACCESS is produced by the
Information Access Branch of the
Information Management and Ser-
vices Division, Washington, DC.
Please send your comments and
suggestions to:
Mary Hoffman
Network Coordinator
EPA Headquarters Library
PM211A
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
FTS 475-7762 /// EPA30360
Linda Garrison Wins
1991 Contract
Management Award
Linda Garrison, Information Manage-
ment and Services Division, has been
awarded the prestigious Contract
Management Award tor 1991. Candi-
dates nominated for the award are
part of an Agencywide competition
that rewards individuals who manage
significant contracts in an exemplary
manner. The awards ceremony was
held May 9,1991.
Linda won the award for her outstand-
ing leadership of the IMSD contract for
a wide range of information access
functions, including clearinghouses,
dockets, libraries, records manage-
ment and other services.
Linda's success in developing a strong
network of delivery order project
officers in programs offices, Regions
and Laboratories was especially noted.
The award closely follows PCMD's
selection of Linda for the first pilot
program to empower Project Officers
with selected Contact Officer authori-
ties. Linda's mastery of contract prin-
ciples and successful application of
management techniques supports full
Agency use of this contract.
Congratulations to Linda for a job very
well done! ~
Value of Information
from page 1
meet the needs of users. When that
happens, they find another way, and
the fact that this is frequently more
inefficient or expensive is not eased
by the fact that we don't know what the
price is.
Q What are the challenges facing us
in the future?
A The challenge that faces us is the
creation of the realization among those
with whom we deal that information
work is important, and its proper per-
formance is dependent on qualified
and informed professionals prepared
for this discipline as for any other. In
this field, perhaps far more than in
others, we have to eliminate the pre-
sumption that information "cost" can
somehow be measured outside the
context of information value (quality,
completeness, and timeliness), and
that this can be done by individuals
without the necessary skill and train-
ing. ~
INFOACCESS
MAY 1991

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1978
1985
1987
First OCLC tape uploaded
(34 records); Cataloging
centralized at Cincinnati Library
EPA Investigates
putting OLS on BRS
OLS Installed on IBM 3090 at
National Computer Center
Access to the Online
Library System (OLS): A Survey.
The Online Library System (OLS) allows users access to
a broad range of environmentally related information con-
tained in the holdings of the EPA Library Network, from
environmental policy and management to the technical as-
pects of monitoring pollutants.
It is a collection of databases housed on the EPA
mainframe which includes general materials that can be
found in EPA libraries, and separate subject files such as
hazardous waste, chemicals, lake management and climate.
Overthe past few years, OLS has evolved into a user-friendly
system that provides easy access to a wealth of information
in a variety of formats.
The following is information gathered in a survey con-
ducted by Patty Carey of the Region 10 Library during Spring
1991. The library will use the information for the planning and
development ol services for Regional staff and other library
clients.
Current Status of OLS Public Access
in EPA Libraries
Following is a list of the survey participants, and the status of
OLS access in their libraries.
Region 1 Uses library staff IDs for OLS access for
all library clients.
Region 2 Currently only the staff uses OLS through a
LAN workstation, with a script file.; no
client access at this time.
Region 3 No client access at this time; staff is
planning for future access.
Region 5 The library plans to provide client access
when equipment is available; no direct
client access at this time. Currently staff
will search for titles or specific subject
searches for EPA staff.
Region 6 Currently only the staff uses OLS; no
client access.
Region 7 The staff is in the process of setting up one
terminal for client use.
MAY 1991
Region 8 There is one dedicated Telex terminal for
client use, staff member must logon each
patron with library staff ID.
Region 9 There are dedicated Telex terminals for
client use. Library staff must logon each
patron with staff ID.
Region 10 There are two terminals for client use,
using script files. Library staff inputs staff
ID and password. [Terminals also used for
CD-ROMs and The EPA Source.]
Headquarters There are three terminals(2 PCs and 1
Macintosh) dedicated for client use.
Uses a Smartcom script file for the
Mac. [Terminals also used for CD-
ROMs, HWC Database, The EPA
Source, and other EPA databases.]
Cincinnati Currently only the staff uses OLS, butthey
will perform searches for clients.
Law Library No client access at this time.
Corvalils No client access, but the library is planning
for future access.
Las Vegas No client access at this time.
RTP Library Client access through one LAN station,
using staff ID.
In summary, the survey illustrates the fact that few of
the EPA libraries offer direct OLS access to their
clients, but most have some plans for future access.
Many issues and ooncerns have been discussed by the
Network. The National Library Network Program staff
is working with the National Computer Center staff to
respond to these concerns and facilitate access to the
system. In addition, there is a joint CD-ROM project
currently underway with NOAA, which will provide
another access point for the information available in the
EPA Library Network. ~ Patty Carey and Mary Hoffman,
LABAT-ANDERSON Incorporated

See attachments for an Instruction
sheet containing system commands and
search tips titled OLS Online Assist Card.
INFOACCESS

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1988 1988	1988	1988
f f	T	T
EPA purchases BASIS/Techllb;	Hazardous Waste	Translations Database	Clean Lakes Database
CSC contractors adapt software	Database available	available	available on OLS
Access to EPA Publications
OLS Access
Through NTIS
As you know, EPA's Online Library
System puts a wealth of information
at your fingertips. The holdings of
EPA's Network Libraries can be
searched by numerous access
points, such as title, author and key-
word.
But did you know that the public can
now access OLS directly? All they
have to do is contact the National
Technical Information Service
(NTIS) to arrange for an account.
Audrey Zapka, the NTIS contact
person, can be reached at (703)
487-4807. She can provide infor-
mation on online license and billing
agreements. The turnaround time
for the agreements is about a week,
and then EPA's National Computer
Center will send out password in-
formation. You can refer OLS users
to the EPA Research Triangle Park
Library [(919) 541-2777] for infor-
mation about OLS; and for copies of
the OLS User Guide, See attached
copy of the flyer, Public Access to
the Online Lbrary System.
You should make sure they know
about the EPA Library Network Most
of the libraries provide on-site ser-
vice to the public and lend materials
through interlibrary loan. The col-
lections and services of each library
are listed in ACCESS EPA: Librar-
ies and Information Services, an
annual directory . This publication is
printed at the Government Printing
Office and is available through the
Depository Library System. It is also
available from NTIS at (703) 487-
>4650. ~
by Brigid Rapp, IMSD
Improved access to EPA publica-
tions has long been a concern of the
EPA Library Network. It has recently
come to the attention of the Adminis-
trator that many of EPA's publications
are not accessible to the public through
the Federal Depository Libraries, a
network of approximately 1400 librar-
ies throughout the country that make
government information available to
the taxpayer.
In response to an initial inquiry,
Charles Grizzle, Assistant Adminis-
trator, Office of Administration and
Resources Management (OARM),
noted in a letter to the Honorable
Wendell H. Ford, then Chairman, Joint
Committee on Printing (JCP): "We
fully support the federal depository
library program, established under
chapter 19 of Title 44, United States
Code, as vital to the public's access to
environmental information. Mr. Reilly
repeatedly emphasizes that an
informed public is essential to the
success of EPA's environmental
protection mission."
In a follow-up letter describing EPA
actions to respond to a cluster of JCP
issues, Charles Grizzle wrote:
"Administrator Reilly and I are
absolutely committed to ensuring that
EPA complies fully with the spirit and
the letter of the laws governing
Federal printing and the dissemination
of information. More specifically, we
are committed to making full use of the
services of the Government Printing
Office and to exemplary cooperation
with the Federal Depository Library
system in assuring public access to
EPA documents and publications."
On April 25, 1991 Alvin
Pesachowitz, Director, Office of Infor-
mation Resources Management,
made a statement to the Joint Com-
mittee on Printing about EPA's public
access activities. EPA was invited, with
other agencies, public interest groups,
private information representatives and
depository librarians, to the first hear-
ing for the new JCP Chairman, Con-
gressman Charles Rose (D-NC). The
testimony was well received and clearly
explained EPA's goal to improve
public access to environmental infor-
mation. See attached copy of the tes-
timony for details.
Information for the hearing was com-
piled by the Information Management
and Services Division (IMSD), the
Office of Toxic Substances and the
Print Shop. IMSD staff will continue to
work with the JCP staff to follow
through with recent initiatives to
heighten awareness of publication
issues and assure that EPA takes full
advantage of Federal public informa-
tion access mechanisms. ~
SpecioC LiSraries
Association Conference
June 10-14,1991
San Antonio, Texas
Anyone planning to attend
please contact Jonda Byrd
at FTS 684-7183 or
Email box EPA3141/J.Byrd.
INFOACCESS ttl MAY 1991

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1988
1988
1989
1989
~	T
Region 4 and 9
document files	Basic and Advanced Users
available on OLS	Manual developed
OCLC and NTIS files	Region 1
combined Into the	document file
National Catalog	available on OLS
EPA's Outreach Through M-Link
Recently the Agency has
embarked on an effort to improve
public access to environmental infor-
mation. At the Information Manage-
ment and Services Conference in
January 1991, Charles Grizzle,
Assistant Administrator of the Office
of Administration and Resources
Management, challenged EPA's in-
formation professionals to "make sig-
nificant strides in providing informa-
tion to the public in a coordinated,
comprehensive and responsive way."
In one pilot project to determine ways
to meet this challenge, the Informa-
tion Management and Services Divi-
sion (IMSD) is working with Richard
Hathaway, Director of M-Link, and
Dr. Richard Dougherty, President of
the American Library Association and
University of Michigan (UMj library
science professor, to develop a strat-
egy for providing environmental
information to Michigan citizens
through public libraries.
M-Link is the University of
Michigan's statewide public informa-
tion system that links local public
libraries to national and academic
databases and expertise. Since it
began operation at the end of 1988, it
has provided comprehensive and
timely information from the UM
Library's extensive resources in re-
sponse to requests forwarded by a
network of participating community
libraries.
Access is facilitated by personal
computers and modems placed in
each participating library so that staff
can send and receive messages over
the state MERIT computer network.
Each library also has a fax machine
so that short journal articles may be
transmitted quickly.
After consulting with Richard
Hathaway, IMSD has agreed to
provide the following databases and
services to expand M-Link's environ-
mental information resources.
Hazardous Waste Superfund
Database.
ACCESS EPA series.
Brokering access to the Right-to-
Know Computer Network and the
forthcoming Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI) CD-Rom.
•	Telephone and fax inquiry
service through the Public
Information Center.
•	EPA/NOAA CD-Rom, post beta-
test phase.
Brigid Rapp, Chief, Information
Access Branch; Linda Travers,
Director, Information Management
Division, Office of Toxic Substances;
and LABAT-ANDERSON managers
met with Dr. Dougherty in April to
discuss next steps for this project.
They also plan to discuss EPA
participation in other outreach efforts
to assure maximum use of environ-
mental information resources. ~
PIC LIST
PIC LIST will be a regular feature
in future library issues of
INFOACCESS. A limited number
of the following new publications
are available at the Public Infor-
mation Center (PIC) this month:
•An Analysis of State Superfund
Programs: 50-State Study, 1990 Update,
September 1990, Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response, EPA/540/8-
90/002.
•Electric and Magnetic Fields From 60
Hertz Electric Power: Y/hat Do WeKrnw
About Possible Health Risks?, February
1991, Office of Air and Radiation,
21A-4001.
•Enforcement Four-Year Strategic Plan:
Enhanced Environmental Enforcement for
the 1990s, February 1991, Office of
Enforcement, 21E-2001.
•Indoor Air Facts, Fact Sheet Number 8:
Use and Care of Home Humidifiers,
February 1991, Office of Air and
Radiation and Office of Research and
Development.
•Superfund Emergency Response
Actions: A Summary of Federally Funded
Removals, Fourth Annual Report—Fiscal
Year 1989, September 1990, Office of
Research and Development, EPA540/
8-90/014.
•Youth and the Environment, Januaiy
1991, Office of Water, 21W-7001.
If you are Interested in obtaining
copies of any of these titles, call the
PublicInformation Center at FTS 475-
MAY1991
INFOACCESS

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1989	1989	1989	1990	1990
f	f	y	f	y
Region 5 pilot of	E-Z REF Project Direct data entry States and Public Climatic Change
Circulation Module (download to dBase) for Translations can access OLS Database available
Around the Network
~	EMSL Library, Las Vegas
The EMSL-LV Library he!d an open
house on March 27, in conjunction with
National Library Week. Over 60 people
attended, including the Director and
Deputy Director of the Laboratory. In
addition to the Open House, a "READ/
SUCCEED" display was developed for
the Executive Center lobby. It was one
of the most successful library open
houses for EMSL-LV, and a fine send-
off for Doreen Wickman who retired
after 25 years as the librarian.
~	NEIC Library, Denver
The NEIC Library held an Open House
on April 17, during National Library
Week. The staff demonstrated the
Rocky Mt. News online, which was a tre-
mendous success. They also showcased
The EPA Source and conducted library
tours. The Open House was well attended
by the NEIC staff, including the Director,
and several Federal librarians from the
Denver area.
~ Region 3 Information Resources
Center, Philadelphia
The Information Resources Center is set-
ting up the Hazardous Waste Technical
Information Center to serve the Hazard-
ous Waste Management Division. The
Center will emphasize computer-based
information such as online searching and
information on CD-ROM, and will also
house relevant publications. Dawn
Shellenberger and Kurt Schenk
will staff the new Center. Their
number is FTS 597-6633; com-
mercial (215) 597-7904.
~ Region 10 Library, Seattle
In honor of Library Week, the
library conducted a library orien-
tation for Regional staff that
included demonstrations of NTIS
on CD-ROM and the Online
Library System.They also show-
cased a display from the local
sewer/water quality utility called
"Clean Water, It's Your Choice".
In addition they invited the staff to
showings of some of the library's
environmental videos. ~ Mary
Hoffman
OLS in a Regional Library: Region 5, Chicago
The Online Library System (OLS) is an important source of information for EPA libraries. The following is a profile of how
one library, the Region 5 Library in Chicago, has integrated OLS into its day-to-day operations.
The Library, established in January 1972, has been using the Online Library System regularly since1987. Staff members
can access it Irom a PC, Macintosh, LAN workstation or Digital DecWriter. Their telecommunications link is through a loca
Icomputer center connection. All of the staff members routinely use the system for cataloging, interlibrary loan, circulation,
and reference functions on a daily basis. In the words of Reference Librarian Penny Boyle, "We could not live without it."
The staff uses the National Catalog the most. They find it especially useful for making lists such as soil surveys or titles
in a series. It is useful when searching for book or document titles owned by other libraries, for interlibrary loan. The
cataloging staff uses it to check for duplicates or for a variety of other cataloging-related functions. It is also used to keep
track of materials loaned to EPA Region 5 staff.
The Region 5 Library does not have the equipment to allow the EPA staff to search OLS in their library, but they do search
the system for EPA requesters, and occasionally for non-EPA patrons if the topic is specific. They demonstrate the system
at open houses and other special occasions.
OLS use in Region 5 is probably typical of its use in most of EPA's Regional libraries. It is a valuable resource that is much
in demand and appreciated by librarians around the network.
~ Penny Boyle, Regbn 5 Library, and Mary Hoffman, LABAT-ANDERSON incorporated
INFOACCESS
6
MAY 1991

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1990
1990
1990
T
1991
T"
Chemical Collection System Improved report	EPA-NOAA
available on OLS	capability	CD-ROM Project
Chemical Collection System (CCS):
A profile of an Online Library System database,
by Lois Ramponi, EPA Headquarters Library
The Chemical Collection System
(CCS) was started in the late 1970s
and the project continued into the early
1980s. Unique to the OTS Chemical
Library, the system was developed to
index items retrieved through
interlibrary loan (ILL) for Office of
Toxic Substances (OTS) staff. As
literature searches were performed on
chemical substances under research,
any item retrieved via ILL was copied
onto microfiche.
What Can You Find In CCS?
Included in the file are citations to
more than 140,000 journal articles,
book chapters, encyclopedia articles
and chapters, contractor reports and
technical reports obtained from the
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS). Copies of items found in the
CCS are available upon request from
the OTS Chemical Library.
How Do You Access CCS?
Prior to October 1990, search access
to the CCS was limited to the author
and call number fields. In October the
CCS file was added to the Online
Library System (OLS) as a subfile,
and the database can now be searched
by article title, journal title, and year of
publication, in addition to author and
call number.
How Do You Search CCS?
To search the CCS, follow the OLS
logon procedures. At the OLS Data-
base Selection Menu, enter "CH".
Keyword access has proven to be the
most useful as a means of retrieving
citations on specific subject areas and
partial titles. Caution should be exer-
cised when searching for journal titles
because most entries have abbrevi-
ated journal titles. In addition, there is
no uniform authority file for the abbre-
viations.
OTS Library staff use the CCS prima-
rily to locate articles and contractor
reports. They have added it to their
"check-first" list; the place they check
first if an item is not located in OLS.
How Do You Get the Articles?
Copies of items found in the CCS are
available upon request from the OTS
Chemical Library through Interlibrary
Loan. Please includethe CCS number,
author, article title and journal title in
your request. Send requests to ILL, US
EPA, OTS Chemical Library (TS-793),
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC
20460; Telephone: 202/8-382-3944;
Email: EPA7565. For more informa-
tion about CCS contact the OTS
Library, at FTS 382-3944. ~
BASIS Plus upgrade
expected
< : — : ~\
EPA Librarians and
CAS Registry
Numbers
One of the most important responsi-
bilities EPA has is the monitoring of
chemicals from creation to disposal or
destruction. The CAS Registry Num-
ber is the Agency data standard for
chemicals, and the Library Network
can provide vital support for Agency
program offices by supplying this
information.
The librarians can search for CAS
registry numbers in on line databases.
If a CAS number can not be found for
any given substance, the librarians
can refer EPA staff to the appropriate
contact at Chemical Abstracts so a
number can be assigned.
A packet containing more detailed
information will be sent to the Network
librarians. Anyone else who is inter-
ested should contact Mary Hoffman
at FTS 475-7762.
V	J
INFOTERRA News
The INFOTERRA/USA staff will sponsor a conference in Wahington, DC
on June 12 -14,1991. Attendees will include representatives from seven
participating Caribbean countries, and officials from the INFOTERRA
Programme Activity Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The INFOTERRA staff in
Washington, DC was recently designated as the INFOTERRA Regional
Service Center for the English-speaking Caribbean region. For more
information about the conference or INFOTERRA, contact John Butsch,
EPA Headquarters Library, FTS 382-5917.
MAY 1991
7
INFOACCESS

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'C1
Directory of Special Collection Librarians, May 1991


NAME
EMAIL
FTS PHONE
FAX

ATMOS. SCI.
Evelyn Poole-Kober, RTP
Dorothy Biggs, Denver
ESRL/MAD
629-4536


ENFORCE.
Library.NEIC
776-5122
776-5116

GR. LAKES
Hagerman, Barbara, GLNPO v

353-7932
886-9096

IBM
Geiger, Sharon, IRM*
S.Geiger
(703) 883-5170
(703)734-5470

INFOTERRA
Butsch, John, DC*
J. Butsch
382-5917
382-3923


Stevanus, Mary, DC*
Vivanco, Lili, DC*
M.Stevanus
L.Vivanco
245-3638
382-5927
382-3923
382-3923

LAW
Barbara Morrison, DC
Library.Law
382-5919
382-7884

LEGISLATIVE Joan Platten. DC
J.PIatten
382-5425
252-0516

POLL. PREV.
Adams, Bernadette, R9*
EPA9956
484-1519
(415)744-1474

BISK
Havilartd, Christina, ECAO*
Rettig, Robert, AWBERC*
EPA3069
EPA3141
684-7300
684-7705
684-7709

SOLID WASTE Bruneske. Kathy, RCRA, DC*
EPA5149
475-9327
382-7884


Davis, Barbara, RCRA, DC*
Friedman, Fred, R1*
Sennett, Paula, R5*
EPA5149
475-9327
883-1687
353-4686
382-7884
(617)573-9662

SUPERFUND
Fulwood, Beverly, R4*
EPA9415
257-4216(x61)
257-4486


Sacks, Felice, DC*
Samuels, Deborra, R9*
Shellenberger, Dawn, R3*
F.Sacks
EPA9956
EPA93101
382-3021
484-1513
597-6633
382-3923
597-7906

TOXICS (ECAO) Arentsen, Sue, TIU, Ci*
S. Arentsen
684-7532


TRI (OTS)
Herzog, Julia, DC*

382-3568
382-7884

WATER
Mitchell, Sfephen, DC*
EPA3738
475-8670
382-3923

* = contractor
Please contact Mary Hoffman for any changes or corrections at FTS 475-7762; Email EPA30360/M.Hoffman.

INFOACCESS
a
MAY 1991

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