United Stales
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211D)
Issue Number 13
January 1992
o-EPA INFO ACCESS
Library Network Communications
Internet: An Idea
Whose Time Has
Come
Over the past 20 years the
growth in information resources
that support research has
corresponded to improvements in
database management
technologies. As organizations
became more experienced in
creating and managing information
resources, the technology was
enhanced and the value of such
resources increased. The end result
was that databases of all types
flourished.
Commercial networks developed
in the 1970s (i.e. DIALOG) began
offering access to commercially
produced and government
databases. Beginning in the 1980s,
another development occurred
when many databases were
published in CD-ROM or magnetic
tape format. Organizations who
tried to use these databases in an
integrated system discovered
technical problems relating to
variations in search interfaces and
combining the results of searches
on different databases.
Complicating matters further, there
was a significant gap between those
planning and building computer
networks, and those dedicated to
improving access to information
resources.
The computer networking
specialists and the information
networking specialists began to work
Continued on page 3
State of the EPA Library Network
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD
It is hard to believe that a year has
passed since the Information
Management and Services Conference
was held in Cincinnati, Ohio during
January 1991. During the past year
we have built on the theme of that
conference, "Federal Information
Access," in several areas.
One area involved CD-ROM
technology and a partnership with
another Federal agency, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); the EPA/
NOAA Library Information Network
Catalog CD-ROM project. Through
this cooperative effort with NOAA, we
expanded the knowledge base of our
EPA Library Network to include the 22
NOAA libraries. The CD-ROM is now
available at 20 locations throughout
EPA and is receiving great reviews.
Another project involved dial-
in access to our Online Library
System (OLS). At the Conference
we discussed public access to
environmental information and
brainstormed on how to make
that information available to the
public. We have moved forward
in this area by providing public
access to OLS effective
September 1991. By making
this database available to the
public, we are supporting William
Reilly's vision of a public informed
and knowledgeable about
environmental issues.
Progress was also made in
the area of publications. The
Office of Information Resources
Management, Office of
Communications, Education and
Public Affairs, Office of
Continued on page 2
New Network Slogan...
Your next great idea is in
the EPA libraries!!
The new EPA Library Network slogan was inspired by a Christian
Holmes' [Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Administration and
Resources Management] speech that emphasized the importance of
ideas. What better place to find new ideas than the EPA libraries?

-------
illiiiirf
L	^
January 1992 Issue
Internet: An Idea Whose Time
Has Come	p. 1
State of the Library Network ... p. 1
NREN Update	p. 3
Internet: An Overview	p. 4
Publication Notes	p. 6
PIC List	p. 6
Corvallis Accesses Internet	p. 6
CD-ROM Survey Results	p. 7
SLA Internet Seminar	p. 7
Around the Library Network .. p. 8
INFO ACCESS, a forum to
provide information and
report on progress in
information management
across the Agency, is
Sroduced by the Information
ccess Branch (IAB) of the
Information Management
and Services Division
(IMSD). Washington, DC,
under tne direction of Jonda
Byrd, National Library
Network Program Manager.
Please send comments and
suggestions to:
Mary Hoffman
(LABAT-ANDERSON
Incorporated), Network
Coordinator, PM-211B,
EPA Headquarters Library,
401M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460.
Telephone: FTS 260-7762.
Electronic mail: EPA30360,
Hoffman.Mary.
State from page 1
Administration and Resources
Management-Cincinnati, and the
Center for Environmental Research
Information developed an
agencywide numbering system for
EPA publications [ see page 7 for
additional information]. This is a
critical step toward facilitating better
access to environmental information
at EPA.
Now it is time to took to a new
year -1992 - a year that will bring
us many challenges. We will have to
look carefully at the services we are
providing and analyze them to see if
we are meeting our clients needs,
providing access to information for
decision making, and supporting the
Agency's mission. We will have to
be creative in our approach and
perform the tasks that make the
most of our limited resources.
Through this review process we
can find opportunities to work with
others. By building partnerships
with EPA program offices, States,
the local library community, and
other Federal agencies we can
better identify the needs for
environmental information and
work together to develop products
and services to meet the demand.
Professional conferences,
seminars, and workshops may also
provide valuable ideas. At the
National Environmental Information
Conference, held in December
1991, Philadelphia, PA, I attended a
session on providing environmental
information to the public. Matthew
Lesko, author of InfoPower, took
librarians to task because many of
us still resort to the traditional
methods of providing information
by pulling a book off the shelf.
I know the EPA Library Network is
much more progressive and
knowledgeable about information
systems and networks than other
library systems, but I do feel there
is a lesson to be learned from
Matthew Lesko. If the perception is
still there that we work only with
printed information, then we have a
task ahead of us to inform our
Clients about the breadth of our
expertise and knowledge. We need
to make them understand the value
of our services and capabilities. We
also need to look at how we provide
information to our clients, and
evaluate whether we are using
information resources and
technology effectively.
During this year we have much
to accomplish:
~ We will continue to investigate
the possibility of information
partnerships with other Federal
agencies in the environmental
arena.
~	We will continue to work with
NTIS and GPO to improve EPA's
delivery of information to the public,
through the Depository Library
System and direct sales to the
public.
~	We will extend the EPA/NOAA
CD-ROM project. Currently we are
working to produce a disk
compatible with High Sierra
standards so it can be played in any
compact disk player; we are also
developing a product that is
compatible with LAN technology.
~	We are planning for a joint
conference with NOAA to develop a
rapport between the two library
networks and investigate the
information sharing possibilities.
I am looking forward to working
with you on these and other projects
during the next year, and I am sure
we will help the agency fulfill its
mission. $
We will have to be creative in our approach
and perform the tasks that make the most
of our limited resources.
INFOACCESS
2
JANUARY 1992

-------
Building Partnerships
for Information Access
April 28-30, 1992 « » Bethesda, Maryland
A Joint meeting of the EPA and NOAA Network Libraries
(See attached draff agenda for Information on topics and sessions)
\	-J
===== NREN Update ==
Over the past few years it has
become increasingly apparent that
high-speed computer networks will
be an essential component for
research and higher education, and
will play a key role in this country's
economic competitiveness in the
global community. The National
Research and Education Network
(NREN), a proposed
telecommunications network to be
built upon the existing
interconnected array of education,
scientific, and governmental data
networks collectively known as
Internet, will fulfill that role.
NREN has been enthusiastically
supported and endorsed throughout
the library and higher education
community. The implementation of
an expanded Internet will
Involve science agencies and
national libraries in developing
resources for NREN.
•» Provide a communications link
among federal and industrial
laboratories, education institutions
and libraries.
—¦ Foster the development of new
electronic information resources and
services.
—¦ Support the development of
supercomputers and advanced
software for use in scientific and
engineering research.
The NREN project helps us
focus on networks as part of an
infrastructure for access to
information resources. The High-
Performance Computing Act of
1991, which enables the NREN
project, provides for the National
Science Foundation's coordination of
the five year installation of a gigabit-
speed national network on the
foundation of NSFNET. This
network will provide wider access to
costly advanced scientific equipment
and national supercomputer centers.
The bill, sponsored by Senator
Albert Gore (D-TN), addresses the
need to make federal databases
available through NREN and to
develop digital libraries as network
resources. The bill has recently been
passed by both houses of Congress
and is currently awaiting the
president's signature, #
The September 1991 issue of
INFOACCESS contained an
introductory article about the
National Research and Education
Network (NREN), and included a list
of references for further reading.
Recent Articles
"A giant step towards Internet
commercialization: the evolution of
Internet into the National Research
and Education Network,"
Telecommunications,
June, 1991, v. 25(6): 7+
"Industry asks for NREN to support
commercial needs," by Ellen
Messmer, Network World,
December 2,1991, p.4,45
"NREN is one step away from
reality," by Ellen Messmer, Network
World, December 2,1991. p.4.56 *
Overview from page 1
together in the late 1980s. The
computer networkers planned larger
and more capable national computer
networks to serve broader
communities. They began to
understand that the network was a
highway system that led the user to
interesting and valuable
destinations. From their point of
view, the information networkers
began to realize that wide-spread
affordable, high-speed connectivity
among institutions were becoming a
reality. The collaboration of the two
groups resulted in a wealth of new
concepts and technologies that
addressed the creation and use of
network-based information
resources.
This issue of INFOACCESS
discusses some of these network-
based information systems. On the
center pages of the issue there is a
two-page layout of information about
INTERNET, a network of networks
that has been evolving over the past
twenty years. There is also an
update on the National Research
and Education Netwoik, the next
generation of INTERNET.
As the computer and
information specialists continue to
work together to enhance systems
such as INTERNET, it is inevitable
that a network of information
professionals such as the EPA
Library Network will become
involved in the process. With
increasing pressures on EPA to
provide access to environmental
information, it is important that its
information professionals be
knowledgeable about and involved
in the evolution of computer
networks. *
JANUARY 1992
3
INFOACCESS

-------
INTERNET
What is Internet?
Internet has been described as
"a network of networks," "a highway
of ideas," "a collective brain for
scientists," and "the world's most
important bulletin board." That gives
you a good idea of its potential. It is
a collection of several thousand
networks linked together and its
purpose is to provide for the
exchange of information to as
many sites as possible.
This network of networks is a
multi-layered system of national,
regional, and local organizations.
"The spirit that
permeates the net
is one of cooperation."
- Anonymous
The backbone is the National
Science Foundation's Network,
NSFNET. Regional or mid-level
networks run by a variety of
organizations from commercial
vendors to state-sponsored groups
form the connection between the
backbone and universities,
government agencies, and other
research organizations. Individual
researchers and scientists are
generally connected through the
organization to which they are
affiliated.
Four Primary Uses
Internet suppports several
direct, real-time, computer-to-
computer interactions. Most of the
users log-in to the net for one of its
four main capabilities:
~	Electronic mail, (email)
~	News. (Usenet or netnews)
~	Remote log-ins. (telnet)
~	Anonymous file transfer
protocol. (FTP)
Email and news are available to
users throughout network. Users can
exchange messages electronically
with millions of individuals around
the globe, providing they know the
person's email address. The net also
supports mailing lists on a variety of
topics that are available to the user.
The news function contains public
messages that are classified into
hundreds of topics, ranging from
computer science to regional issues.
Remote log-ins and anonymous
FTP are available only on systems
directly connected to Internet. The
remote log-in facility allows a user to
log-in to one Internet system from
another Internet system. Anonymous
FTP allows an organization to set up
an anonymous account and place in
it files and archival information (i.e.
software) that the organization is
willing to share. One example of the
type of information shared in
anonymous FTP is directories of
services that are available through
anonymous FTP; this may be the
only place that such information is
listed.
Internet Relay Chat is a relatively
new facility that allows two people on
the net to communicate in real time;
the conversation can proceed as
quickly as the two communicators
can type.
Access to Internet
A user will need a few basic
things to access Internet. In terms of
equipment, he will need a computer,
a modem, and a phone line. In
addition he must have appropriate
software, and most importantly, a
feed. That is, a connection into the
network - usually an organization
or institution in your region who
maintains a link into Internet.
Each region has a coordinator, and
Continued on page 5
		
Just the Facts...
~	Internet's origins can be traced
back to ARPANET, a network
established in 1969, by the
Department of Defense.
~	Internet boasts 3 million users
in 33 countries - affiliated with
private, academic, and
government organizations.
~	Traffic on NSFNET has
increased 250% since1987.
~	About a million people world-
wide read news items on Usenet
(the news function) daily.
~	Internet is limited to research
and education topics; commercial
traffic is banned.
~	There are about 850 ongoing
discussion groups.
~	Internet receives approximately
$20 million in Federal subsidies
each year.
~	Internet has a hierarchical
structure with a backbone network
but with no central control for
approximately 5000 connecting
networks.
~	Internet's backbone is
NSFNET; it is managed by
Advanced Network and Services,
a non-profit organization.
~	Internet is a UNIX-based
system.
~	Internet uses the Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
as its communications protocol.
~	There is no cost to use
Internet, although users may pay
£ fee for their connection.	A
INFOACCESS
4
JANUARY 1992

-------
Evolving into NREN...
Internet is evolving into a
national network that could
ultimately link more than 1500
colleges, universities, and research
organizations. There are many
forces driving the evolution,
including the Bush Administration's
High-Performance Computing and
Communications Initiative to bolster
coordinated federal research and
international competitiveness.
The High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991, sponsored
by Albert Gore, is the legislative
effort. Included in its text are plans
to incorporate the National Science
Foundation's backbone with
NASA's Sciences Internet and
DOE's Energy \Sciences Network,
and to upgrade the system's
architecture, significantly increasing
.the transmission capabilities.
Those interested in allowing
commercial activity on the net are
hopeful of the opportunities for them
as well. Traditionally,
commercial traffic has been banned
on the net, but there is increasing
pressure for further privatization of
the network. One group which is
lobbying for commercial traffic on
the system is Advanced Network
and Services (ANS), a non-profit
collaboration of IBM, MCI, and Merit
Network, Inc. that is managing the
NSF backbone. ANS is developing a
separate for-profit firm to develop an
internet backbone for commercial
use.
Whether Internet continues on a
non-commercial course or allows
industry to participate in further
privatization, it is evolving into
something larger and better. Internet
will be rolled out of the shadows to
center stage in the coming years. *
From page 4...
that person can help you find a feed
if your organization does not
maintain one.
How does the net work?
The net, as Internet is often
called, consists of thousands of
computers of different architectures
using different communications links.
The most important link between
these disparate pieces of equipment
is the communications protocol:
Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - the de
facto standard for interoperability
among computer systems. Local
traffic is handled with local
connections; internetwork traffic
is routed through gateways. NSFNET
provides the major high-speed
¦inks between the regional and local
hetworks.
The Internet Future
Internet is evolving into a faster
and broader web of communications
and information links. Projects to
explore the use of the net by non-
traditional users are in the
development slage. There are
several issues which must be
addressed by those working
to improve Internet, including,
/ Routing protocols and techniques
~	Congestion control (gateways
and bridges).
~	Network design.
~	Management software tools.
~	Accounting and billing.
~	Copyright.
~	Security.
Whether you are more interested in
its commercial benefits, or its
contribution to information sharing, it
will be interesting to follow the
¦volution of Internet.
Related Projects
~	A Department of Education
grant was awarded to the OCLC
Office of Research for a project
titled "Assessing Information on the
Internet; Toward Providing Library
Services for Computer-Mediated
Communication."
~	A consortium in the metro
DC area (including representatives
from the Library of Congress,
University of Maryland, National
Science Foundation and others) is
investigating the potential of a
national information network that
would include library networks
interoperating with research
networks.
~	The Linked Systems
Project (LSP), led by a consortium
of research institutions called
EDUCOM, is developing a protocol
that provides a uniform means for
exchanging library information in a
computer environment.
References
The following sources were used to
compile this article:
Civilizing Internet, by David Churbuck,
Forbes, July 8,1991, p.90-91.
Department of Education provides grant
for Internet research, Database, October
1991, v. 14(5): 10+
Feeding the Internet, Byte, July 1991,
v. 16(7): 184+
A giant step towards Internet
commercialization: the evolution of
Internet into the National Research and
Education Network, Telecommunica-
tions, June, 1991, v. 25(6): 7+
Just who owns the Internet?, by Sharon
Fisher, Infbworld, February 4,1991,
p.57.
Riding the Internet, by David Coursey,
Infoworld, February 4,1991, p. 48.
User's Fears Mount over NSFNET
Upgrade, by Ellen Messmer, Network
World. December 9.1991. p. 9-10. &
JANUARY 1992
5
INFO ACCESS

-------
~P
Publication Notes
m
New EPA Numbering System
Jonda Byrd, from the Office of Information Resources Management, worked
with the Office of Communications, Education and Public Affairs, Center for
Environmental Research Information and Office of Administration and
Resources Management-Cincinnati to develop the new EPA numbering
system. The system was introduced in the Printing Management Manual which
went out for green border review. The system went into effect in January 1992.
If you would like additional information about the numbering system you can
contact Deb McNeally or Sam Eastwood at the EPA Publications and Informa-
tion Center (EPIC) in Cincinnati at FTS 684-7980.
Green Library Journal: Environmental Topics In the Information World
We encourage all INFOACCESS readers to consider contributing articles to
this journal. The Green Library Journal \s an international journal that
welcomes contributions from authors on topics related to sources of
information on environmental protection, conservation, management of natural
resources, and ecologically balanced regional development. It also publishes
articles dealing with environmental issues specific to libraries, publishing
industries, and the information sciences. Submissions in paper or electronic
format may be mailed to Maria Jankowska, Editor, Green Library Journal,
University of Idaho Library, Moscow, ID 83843-4198. Please consult with the
editor before submission. The deadline for the next issue (September 1992) is
April 15th. For a copy of detailed instructions to authors, contact Mary Hoffman
(contractor), Network Coordinator, at FTS 260-7762 or on Email: EPA30360.
Books for Young People
Gretl Cox (contractor), Head Librarian for Technical Services, prepared a
bibliography of environmental multimedia materials produced for young people.
The bibliography will be published and distributed by the Office of
Communications, Education and Public Affairs, updating the 1987 "Books for
Young People on the Environment."
INFOTERRA Directory of Environmental Sources
The INFOTERRA/USA Directory of Environmental Sources is a catalog of 434
environmental information sources which have agreed to provide information to
international requestors. Each entry in the Directory contains an address,
phone and fax numbers, description of services, and fields of expertise. For
more information please contact the INFOTERRA staff at FTS 260-5917.
Corvallis Accesses Internet
Staff at the EPA's Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon
(ERL-C) send and receive electronic mail to universities and other federal
agencies through the Internet. Increased Internet access (including file
transfer capabilities and remote logins) is scheduled for Spring of 1992.
Currently the staff can send Internet mail from AII-in-1 [Email],or from
VAX/VMS mail by using the following format at the TO: prompt:
I N%"username@nodename"
For instance:
IN%"renie@oorvls.cor.epa.gov"
# Renie McVeety (contractor), Manager, Computer Sciences Corporation staff,
ERL- Corvallis.
PIC LIST
A limited number of the
following new publications are
available at the Public Information
Center (PIC) this month. If you are
interested in obtaining copies of
any of these titles, call the Public
Information Center at FTS 260-
7751.
1992: The Year of Clean Water
(calendar), American's Clean
Water Foundation, Virginia
Water Resources Research
Center, Terrene Institute, and
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
Beneficial Use of Sewage
Sludge: Land Application,
(poster), undated, Office of
Water.
Buying an EPA-Certified
Woodstove, February 1990,
Wood Heater Program, Office of
Air and Radiation.
Earth Notes; for Educators,
Grades K-6, Fall 1991, Office of
Communications, Education and
Public Affairs. [22K-1001]
Endangered Species Coloring
Book, September 1991, Office of
Pesticide Programs. [21T-3048]
Lessons for International
Environmental Negotiations,
Speech by Administrator William
Reilly, September 23,1991,
Office of Communications and
Public Affairs (OCPA).
[22A-2000]
The Next Environmental Policy:
Preventing Pollution, by
Administrator Reilly, August
1991, OCPA. [21Z-1021]
Toward a Realistic Wetlands
Policy, Speech by Administrator
Reilly, September 4,1991,
OCPA. [21A-2010] *
INFOACCESS m| JANUARY 1992

-------
CD-ROM Survey
Results
Jonda Byrd, Program Manager,
National Library Network, conducted
a survey of the network libraries to
gather information about the
equipment used to access
information in CD-ROM format. The
following is a summary of the
information provided by the sites
responded to the survey.
REGION 2 - recently placed 14 CD-
ROM disks on the LAN and is
developing a USER'S MANUAL and
training courses.
REGION 3 - Meridian Data's CD
NET is connected to the Region's
LAN.
AWBERC - Cincinnati - 9 CD titles
are available through the Center's
LAN (25 disks in all); 7 additional
titles are available in the Library.
REGION 7 - plans to make CD-
ROMs available on the LAN. A disk
tower has been obtained; the library
is in the process of selecting CDs.
REGION 9 - a stand-alone system
in the library and a 3-tier system
connected to the IRM LAN. The
library's CD's are not LAN versions,
although some will run in a LAN
environment if use is restricted to
one person at a time.
EMSL - Las Vegas - currently does
not have CD-ROM's available
through a LAN, but the Laboratory
has purchased DEC'S Infoserver, a
"jukebox" arrangement that allows
both VAX terminal users and PCSA
networks users to search from their
desks.
ERL- Corvallls - the Library's CDs
are not currently on any network, but
they access the CD-ROM network
at a local university.
HEADQUARTERS- 12 CD-ROM
titles are available in the Library. #
Cruising the Electronic Highways:
A Librarian's Guide to Internet
(Report from a Recent SLA Seminar)
by Peg Nelson (contractor), Regional Manager, Region 1
"Cruising the Electronic
Highways; a Librarian's Guide to the
Internet" was sponsored by the
Boston Chapter of Special Libraries
Association (SLA) on Nov 21,1991.
In the afternoon session, four
speakers provided an overview of
the system, basics of getting
connected, using public access
catalogs and other files, and a
software tool to help manage
information sought through the
internet.
Having attended a couple of
workshops on the Internet, I
probably should be able to describe
it accurately, but felt relieved by
the consensus of the presenters that
there is a lot of information available
through the Internet, but it is not
organized and there is no guide or
manual for it. The trick is
to figure out what you want, develop
the most efficient means to access it,
get on and grab it then get off before
you are lured into numerous paths or
caught in other "nets."
Internet can be used for
electronic mail exchange between
systems which could not otherwise
communicate; to transfer files from
one computer to another; for remote
access to a variety of systems
including library catalogs, online
databases, bulletin boards; to
obtain free software, conduct
surveys, hold conferences, etc. It
provides an opportunity for two (or
more) way communication from
geographically remote locations with
little more effort than using LAN or
All-in-One. Or so I hear; I have
never used Internet and am just
reporting what I have heard during
sessions or read.
Internet is a "series of
interconnected networks that
includes local area, regional, and
national backbone networks.
Networks in the Internet use the
same telecommunications protocol
(TCP/IP) and provide electronic mail,
remote login, and file transfer
services. The Internet Protocol (IP)
provides a common layer over
dissimilar networks, used to move
packets among host computers and
through gateways if necessary."
(from the HYTELNET Glossary...a
memory resident program to assist
user in reaching Internet-
accessible libraries, Freenets,
Library BBs, and other information
sites by Telnet.)
The Online Library System
(OLS) is a example of a library
catalog which might potentially be
searched via the Internet from
anywhere on earth. Basically you
can be linked to resources around
the world through this highway which
connects hundreds of separate
networks (BITNET, DIALMAIL,
ALANET, GAN on the ECONET, etc.
providing the common highway for
shared access. "The Internet uses a
hierarchical scheme (known as the
Domain Name System, or DNS) for
naming computers on the network.
DNS names can be recognized
easily because they have several
parts separated by periods." Eg.,
cra@vms.cis.ppitt.edu. (from "Using
the National Networks: Bitnet and
the Internet" by Caroline R. Arms in
Online, September 1990. There are
a series of three articles on networks
in that issue.)
The negative or downside of
cruising this electronic highway is
the ease with which the Internet
traveller can get lost or sidetracked,
the learning curve, the lack of
organization and user's manual.
Because the Internet is comprised of
hundreds of separate systems with
differing protocol, it poses a real
challenge to the novice user. One of
the speakers likened it to having
Continued on page 8
JANUARY 1992
INFOACCESS

-------

( Around the Library Network )
This section of INFOACCESS is used to report on upcoming meetings and projects currently underway
in the Regions, Laboratories and Headquarters. Anyone with contributions for this column should contact
Mary Hoffman (contractor), Network Coordinator, at FTS 260-7762.
%
Law Library
The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) has
invited Barbara Morrison, the Law Librarian, to
serve on their Environmental Indexing Advisory
Group. The Group will consider the indexing for
Environment Reporter Federal, State, and Mining
publications, and their corresponding finding aids.
Anyone with ideas for new terms, cross-referencing,
or new or revised finding aids can contact Barbara
at FTS 260-5919.
Region 1 - CD-ROMs on the LAN
Peg Nelson (contractor), Regional Manager, is
working with two LAN administrators in the Region
to arrange CD-ROM access through the Regional
LAN. Effective October 10th, their Silver Platter
software was operational, making PESTBANK,
OSH-ROM, and CHEMBANK available to Regional
staff. Eventually all CD-ROMs will be available
through the LAN menu option throughout the
Region.
Region 4 - University Outreach
Priscilla Pride (contractor), Head Librarian, and
Beverly Fulford (contractor), Librarian, were asked
to speak at Clark Atlanta University. The topic of
their presentation was sources of information
relating to environmental health risk factors. They
also included information about materials available
at the Region 4 Library.
Region 10 - DCS to OLS
Region 10 Library staff completed the conversion
from their Document Control System to the Online Library
System (OLS). Of the 1993 documents processed, 20%
were withdrawn and 65% cataloged into OCLC. The
remaining titles were numbered EPA reports and missing
documents. A total of 1289 items were added to OCLC
and OLS, including 222 items that required original
cataloging. The library staff has already seen benefits
from the project in OLS searches that have listed titles
previously not accessible to the patrons.
Headquarters Library
The Headquarters staff, under the direction of Lois
Ramponi (contractor), Head Librarian/Coordinator, were
asked to develop an executive library of EPA materials
for Christian Holmes, Acting Assistant Administrator,
Office of Administration and Resources Management.
The staff conducted searches on the Online Library
System to identify appropriate titles, and are in the
process of collecting documents from clearinghouses,
hotlines, the program offices, and the Center for
Environmental Research Information. The executive
library will cover a wide spectrum of EPA issues and
subjects, and will include an indexed set of the
Administrator's speeches.
INFOTERRA
Mary Stevanus (contractor), INFOTERRA Librarian,
was named Chair of the International Affairs Roundtable
for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of
the Special Libraries Association.
Seminar from page 7
cable TV with 200 channels featuring
mostly reruns of "Leave it to Beaver"
plus a few new good shows. The
trick was learning which channels
were worth watching. Another
analogy was that Internet is like
glimpsing into a 21st century New
England town rriedting gone
international where every participant
could speak and did so in a variety
of languages.
The September 1991 issue of
Online presented an article on
WAlStation, the Wide Area
Information Server, which was
described as a tool to help navigate
and screen the Internet. It was an
intriguing concept of putting out
some keywords to be run against
selected files and the results brought
back to the user ranked according to
relevancy. While at first it appeared
that artificial librarians were at work,
the speaker acknowledged that
the initial selection of files to search
remains a human one.
With the passage of NREN, and
EPA's recent announcement of
Internet access in 1992, it is time
to pay attention to this
telecommunications link to "outside
email" and other systems. I hope
to communicate with all of you on
the Internet in the near future. #
Would you like to know more about Internet ?? Watch for
news about an Internet bibliography that is In process	
INFOACCESS msM JANUARY 1992

-------