Infoaccess: Library Network Communications; [Or] Records Network Communications. Issue No.15 March 1992


United Slates
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211D)
Issue Number 15
March 1992
v>EPA INFO ACCESS
Library Network Communications
In this Issue...
NOAA Library
Network
p.3
Reaching out to
Regional Networks
p.4
Public Access
News
p.5
Publications
from PIC
p.5
Exploring
Internet
p.6
New Public
Access to OLS
p.7
Around the
Network
p.8
Agenda Set for April Conference
by Jonda Byrd, National Library Network Program Manager
It is time to pack your bags full of ideas, questions, and information to
share at the EPA/NOAA Joint Librarians Conference. This conference
promises to be a great opportunity to discuss information access issues with
our colleagues, as well as learn the latest in information technology from
many knowledgeable speakers.
We are fortunate to have as our special guest speaker, Patricia Klinck,
State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries, who will address the topic of
our conference theme "Building Partnerships for Information Access". Ms.
Klinck will give the benefit of her years of experience and perspective as
provider of information to many varied clients.
We will also hear from Mr. David Blockstein, Executive Director,
Committee for the National Institutes for the Environment, on the proposed
National Library for the Environment. Be ready to provide him with your ideas
and feedback on this proposal. He is very interested in hearing our thoughts,
ideas and concerns on this issue.
We are especially pleased this year that the NOAA Library Information
Network will be joining us. What better way to build a partnership than
meeting each other and working together to determine common needs and
discuss topics of concern. I have enjoyed working with Carol Watts, Chief,
Library and Information Services Division and Janice Beattie, Chief, Regional
Libraries Branch, NOAA, in planning this conference. It promises to be
invaluable to both networks. To learn more about our NOAA colleagues see
the article on the NOAA Library Information Network on page 3.
Building Partnerships for
Information
EPA/NOAA Librarians Conference
Bethesda, Maryland April 28-30, 1992
Printed on Recycled Paper

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Tip of the Hat
~	Congratulations to Louise
Gunkel (contractor), Cataloging
Technician, in the AWBERC
Library in Cincinnati, and Debra
Talsma (contractor), Librarian,
in the MVEL Library in Ann
Arbor, for earning their M.L.S.
degrees.
~	Join us in welcoming Marilyn
Hurlow to the Network. Marilyn
was working with Superfund
records in Region 10 until
recently when she replaced
Patty Carey in the Region 10
Library.


INFOACCESS, a forum to
provide information and
report on progress in
information management
across the Agency, is
produced by the Information
Access Branch (IAB) of the
Information Management
and Services Division
(IMSD) Washington, DC,
under the direction of Jonda
Byrd, National Library
Network Program Manager.
Please send comments and
suggestions to:
Mary Hoffman
(contractor), Network
Coordinator, PM-211B,
EPA Headquarters Library,
401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20460.
Telephone: FTS 260-7762.
Electronic mail: EPA30360,
Hoffman.Mary.

EPA Library Network
University Partners
The following is a list of some of the universities that have special
relationships with EPA Regional or Laboratory libraries. We have supplied
Internet addresses that can be used as an alternate means of
communication. Some of the universities can be accessed directly on
Internet, and the rest are avilalble on BITNET, which is part of the Internet
network.
Emory University (GA)
Emory Online Library Access Catalog
Electronic Mail
BITNET Inforep - Peter Day, (404) 727-7678
emuvml cc.emory.edu
Iibssd@emuvm1
ospwd@emuvm1
University of Hawaii (HI)
To pose questions:	chantiny@uhccx.uhcc.hawaii.edu
Send information to:	uhlib@uhccx.uhcc.hawaii.edu
BITNET Inforep - Walter S. Yee, (808) 948-7351 t004480@uhccmvs
University of North Carolina (NC)
UNC Information [Log on with usename INFO]
BITNET Inforep - Daniel Wingate, (919) 962-9107
info.acs.unc.edu
uwingt@unc
The following lists BITNET "inforeps" for some of the universities. The Inforep
is the individual appointed by the BITNET institutional representative to be
responsible for local BITNET information support and liaison to the BITNET
Network Information Center. When accessing someone on BITNET through
Internet, add the following to the Bitnet address: ,BITNET@IN
Clark University (GA)
Mathew Phelps (508)793-7425
Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Katherine Weber (303) 273-3448
Duke University (NC)
Dr. Alton Brantley (919) 684-3695
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Richard Henderson (404) 894-4660
Georgia State University (GA)
Evelyn Buffington (404) 658-2686
North Carolina State University (NC)
Larry Robinson (919) 737-2517
Oregon State University (OR)
Phil Brown	(503) 754-3434
University of California - Davis (CA)
Joan Gargano (916) 752-2591
University of Cincinnati (OH)
Ellen R. Olten (513) 475-5681
University of Oklahoma (OK)
Jim White (405) 325-7234
mphelps@clarku
kweber@ mines
dalton@tucc
ccuser@gitvm1
usgehb@gsuvml
nlil@ncsuvm
brown@orstvm
jcgargan@ucdavis
cconero@ucccvm1
ausjdw@uokmvsa
Continued on page 7
INFOACCESS
MARCH 1992

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NOAA Library & Information Network
This article was developed with t
Regional Libraries Branch, National
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) was organized in 1970, at the
instigation of President Richard Nixon (as was the
Environmental Protection Agency). NOAA combined
three agencies, the National Weather Service (est.
1890), the National Marine Fisheries Service (est.
1871), and the Coast and Geodetic Survey (est.
1807).
In 1971 the library collections of the three
organizations merged to form the NOAA Central
Library in Rockville, Maryland. Shortly after that the
Library and Information Services Division was
established to provide scientific, technical, and
legislative services and products for the NOAA
scientists, researchers, administrative staff, and
others working in NOAA-related disciplines. In
fulfulling its mission, the Division formed the NOAA
Library and Information Network (NLIN).
NLIN is comprised of the NOAA Central Library
in Rockville, three Regional libraries at the NOAA
Western Regional Center in Seattle, Washington;
the Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory
in Miami, Florida; and the National Hurricane Center
in Coral Gables, Florida. The bulk of the network is
composed of approximately 30 libraries and
information centers that are independently
administered by other line offices in NOAA. Most of
the libraries and information centers are located at
NOAA's fisheries, weather, and environmental
research labs around the country.
Libraries in the NOAA Network contain special
collections covering a wide variety of topics, from
shrimp to satellites to climatology. Other special
collections contain information on green turtles, fish
oil, severe weather, fish pathobiology, atmospheric
physics, zebra mussels, meteorology, effluent plume
behavior, astonomics, and hydrology, to name a few.
The materials owned by NLIN pertain to the
environment extending from the bottom of the sea to
the sun. Most of the collections relate to regional
animals and conditions, such as the Pascagoula
assistance of Janice Beattie, Chief,
Library's video collection on turtle exclusion devices
(TEDs) or the Seattle Library's collection of materials
about marine mammals.
During the 1980's the Central Library provided
the impetus to coordinate centralized access to the
materials located in the libraries throughout NLIN. By
1982 they had developed an online in-house system
on a mini-computer. After some down-time at the
Central Library in the mid-1980s while asbestos was
removed from the facility, the staff focused on
improving access to the NLIN holdings. A system
assessment and changes in technology fed them to
CD-ROM technology, and the idea for NOAA LINC
(Library Information Network Catalog) was
conceived. By 1989 NOAA LINC was installed in
several of the libraries nationwide.
The EPA Headquarters Library and the NOAA
Central Library have always enjoyed a good working
relationship, partly because of the environmental
thrust of the agencies. During 1990 EPA
Headquarters Library staff visited the NOAA Central
Library and saw a demonstration of NOAA LINC,
and during that visit an idea was born. It was the
notion that a CD containing the holdings of both
Library Networks would be a valuable tool. After
much discussion and negotiation, EPA and NOAA
agreed to work together (along with The Library
Corporation, the contractor supplyng the technical
support) to add the EPA Library Network holdings to
NOAA LINC, establishing the NOAA/EPA LINC CD.
The EPA/NOAA Librarians Meeting scheduled
for April 1992 is a natural extension of the work on
the NOAA/EPA LINC project. Librarians from the two
agencies believe that strengthening the ties between
EPA and NOAA will benefit staff from both agencies
and improve access to environmental information for
agency staff and the public. The meeting participants
will be building a stronger partnership for information
access. * Mary Hoffman (contractor) Network
Coordinator, EPA Library Network
MARCH 1992	INFOACCESS

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Working with Regional Networks....
Most libraries participate in a number of networks, formally and informally. EPA libraries are part of the EPA
Library Network, regional OCLC networks like SOLINET, specialized groups like the Regional Medical
Library Network, and local or regional groups like the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. We asked
the EPA Librarians to share some of their network activities and experiences.
Region 2 - Edison
The EPA Edison Library is a member of the New Jersey Library Network
(LINX). Members receive a Statewide Services Handbook featuring the
University Libraries, the State Library, some Public Libraries, and their special
collections and services. For example, Newark Public has a collection of U.S.
patents from No. 1 to the present. Rutgers University offers a Citation/
Location Center. The State Library has a Jerseyana collection. The main
benefits have been increased access for interlibrary loans and photocopies at
no charge, and a document delivery service 3 times a week. Through this
Network and the NJULS, this library has become well known in the state as
an excellent source of environmental materials, especially hard to find EPA
reports. [Dorothy Szefczyk (contractor), Librarian]
Region 4 - Atlanta
The Georgia Online Library Database (GOLD), the Southeast Library Network
Database (SOLINE), and the Southeast Library Network (SOLINET) comprise
the major library networks in Region 4. GOLD is a network of Georgia
academic, public and special libraries. SOLINE includes the holdings of the
libraries in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Virginia. The primary purpose
of GOLD and SOLINE is to make interlibrary loans and resource sharing
easier and more cost effective. No fees are charged to network members.
SOLINET provides OCLC training for members as well as non-members who
usually pay a higher fee. The Region 4 library has taken advantage of
SOLINET-sponsored training for OCLC, EPIC and PRISM. [Priscilla Pride
(contractor), Head Librarian]
Region 4- AREAL
The library in the Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory (AREAL) participates in formal and informal networks in the
Southeastern part of the country. The library is unique in that it is considered
part of the EPA Library Network AND the NOAA Library Network. Currently
the library shares lists of duplicates with the NOAA Library Network and SAIL,
a group composed of Federal and State Libraries and Universities in the
Southeast. The library also shares EPA microfiche with NOAA Libraries in
Asheville, North Carolina, and Mississippi.[Evelyn Poole-Kober, Librarian]
Region 9 - San Francisco
The Region 9 library participates in
a local network of special libraries -
the San Francisco/San Andreas
Chapter the Special Libraries
Association (SLA) - which includes
north bay and south bay. It has
been a wonderful experience since
the network publishes a local
directory of members, has a local
newsletter, hosts regular dinner
meetings and occasional seminars.
People in the network are extremely
helpful. The network also sponsors
a jobline for professional and
nonprofessional listings.
Linda Sunnen is an active member
of the hospitality committee which
hosts the dinner meetings and is the
chapter Government Relations
Representative. As the chapter
representative, Linda has
contributed articles to the local
newsletter on congressional
activities which affect libraries. The
library uses the jobline to announce
all its openings. This year the
annual SLA conference will be held
in San Francisco. Linda Sunnen
has volunteered the library to be the
host of a division suite open house
one afternoon during the
conference. [Linda Sunnen
(contractor), Head Librarian]
Region 8 - Denver
The Region 8 library is a big booster of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (CARL). The CARL system offers
access to a variety of databases which include library catalogs, magazine and journal indexes, statistics on Denver,
and full text magazine articles. This Colorado network is an important link for the libraries and related information
centers in the state. [Barbara Wagner, Librarian]
INFO ACCESS MARCH 1992

-------
f Library Network Directory, March 1992 J
LIBRARIAN
EMAIL
FTS PHONE
FAX
Arentsen, Sue, Cinci*
Arentsen.S
684-7532
684-7276
Bankson, John, Duluth*
ERL/Duluth
780-5538
780-5539
Bergin, Joyce, Ada*
RSKERLUbrary
743-2241
743-2256
Bibby, Elizabeth, Atlanta*
Bibby. Liz
257-0506
347-5205
Biggs, Dorothy, NEIC, Denver
Library .NEIC
776-5122
776-5116
Butsch, John, INFOTERRA, DC* ButschJohn
260-5917
260-3923
ByrtJ, Jonda, IAB, Cincinnati
ByrdJ
684-7183
684-7186
Cox, Gretl, DC*
Cox.Gretl
260-1967
260-3923
Friedman, Fred, BostofVSWIC*

833-1687
833-1662
Gamache,Rose,Narra., Rl*
ERL-Narragansett
838-6025
838-6030
Garrison, Linda, IAB, DC
Garrison!
260-6939
260-3923
Goodman, Eveline, NYC*
Library.Reg2
264-2881
264-5433
Harmony, Stephens, Cinci*
Harmony.Steph
684-7707
684-7276
Hoffman, Mary, DC*
Hoffman.Mary
260-7762
260-3923
Hurtow, Marilyn, Seattle *
Hurtow.Marilyn
399-1841
399-4672
Johnson, Ann, Annapolis*
Johnson.Ann
52-2103
652-2198
Knight, John, RTP.NC
Knight.J
629-2794
629-1405
Lane, Leticia, Dallas
R6.Library
255-6444
255-2146
MacKinnon, Barb, KC*
Ltorary.Reg7
276-7358
276-7467
McCreary, Diane, Philadelphia
L#xary.Reg3
597-0580
597-7906
McVeety, Renie, CorvaHis*
McVeety.Renie
430-4677
430-4799
Morrison, Barbara, Law, DC
Law.Library
260-5919
260-7883
Nelson, Peg, Boston*
Nelson. Margaret
835-3300
835-3346
OAQPS, RTP
Smith.Libby
629-5514

Piatt en, Joan, Legislative, DC
PlattenJoan
260-5425
260-8866
Pinned, Liz, Gulf Breeze *
Pinnell.E
228-9218
228-9201
Poole-Kober, Evelyn, AREAL
ASMD/AREAL
629-4536

Pride, Prisclila, Atlanta*
Library.Reg.IV
257-4216
257-4486
Ramponi, Lois, HQ Lb, DC*
Ramponi.Lois
260-3561
260-3923
Rosseel, Kevin, PIC,DC*
Rosseel.K
260-1755
260-3923
Sacks, FeHce, (SF) DC*
Sacks.Felice
260-3021
260-2923
Samuels, Deborra (SF), SF*
Samuels. Deborra
744-1513
744-1474
Schoepke, Tim, OTS, DC*
Schoepke.T
260-3944
260-4655
Sears, JuRenne, Seattle
Ubraty.Reg.X
399-1289
399-4672
Sennett, Paula, Chicago/SWIC*
353-4686
886-9096
Shellenberger, Dawn, (SF)Phil.*
Shellenberger.Dawn 597-6633
597-9890
Sims, Janice, Athens
ERL/Athens
250-3302
250-2018
Sunnen, Linda, San Fran*
Ubraiy.Reg9
484-1517
484-1474
Szefczyk, Dorothy, Edison
Ubrary.Ed
340-6762
340-6613
Taisma, Debbie, Ann Arbor*
OMS/AMS/Safety
374-8311
374-8368
Thorn, Rosemary, RTP.NC*
Thom.R
629-0094
629-1405
TMey, Lou, Chicago
Ubrary.Reg5
353-2022
353-1155
Wagner, Barbara, Denver
Ubrary.Reg.VIII
330-1391
330-1067
WaWn, CamiHe, Las Vegas*
Ubrary.LV
545-2648
545-2637
York, Sandy, Denver*
York.S
(303)680-6576
(303)680-6739
Young, Lisa, DC*
Young.L
260-3533
260-3923
'-contractor J
Please contact Mary Hoffman (contractor), Network Coordinator, about any changes or corrections
at FTS260-7762or E-mail tx>x Hoffman. Mary.*

-------
Public Access to EPA's
Online Library System (OLS)
Books - Reports - Journals
Air Quality Global Issues Health Effects
Hazardous Waste Laboratory Methods
Pollution PreventionToxic Substances Water Pollution
The Online Library System (OLS) is a computerized list of bibliographic citations compiled by the
EPA library network. EPA provides this menu-driven, user-friendly system at no cost to support
public access to environmental information. The only charges that will be incurred through use of
the system are telecommunications charges.
~ OLS DATABASES ~
OLS consists of several related databases that can be used to locate books, reports, and
articles on a variety of topics. The material in OLS is updated every two weeks, and can be
searched by numerous access points, such as title, author, and keyword.
National Catalog
Hazardous Waste
Clean Lakes
EPA Region 1
Chemical Collection
System
Citations and summaries on environmentally related topics
encompassing biology, chemistry, ecology, and other basic
sciences; and EPA reports distributed through the National
Technical Information Service.
Citations and summaries for key materials on hazardous waste.
Citations and summaries on topics relating to lake management,
protection, and restoration.
Selected items owned by the Region 1 Library.
Citations for items relating to chemicals.
For information about the Online Library System, please contact the nearest EPA Library.
A list of the libraries is available on the system's HELP Screen.
Dialing Into The System ...
Number For Dial-In Access: (919) 549-0720
Use these transmission & format settings:
300-9600 baud rate Even Parity
7 data bits per character One Stop Bit
To Log-In: Dial into the system. At the first system
prompt, type IBMPSI. At the second system prompt,
type OLS.
To Print: Printing is only available through your
telecommunications software.
To Log-Out: Type 0 or QUIT at the system prompt.
Access through Internet...
We encourage universities and institutions
with Internet connections to access OLS using
Internet links to EPA.
EPA's Internet address is:
EPAIBM.RTPNC.EPA.GOV
At the first menu, select "Public Access."
At the second menu, select "OLS."
USER SUPPORT:
~ Call EPA's National Computer Center for technical system assistance (help with anything that
happens before you type "OLS" at the system prompt) at 1-800-334-2405.
~ Contact the EPA Library in Research Triangle Park, NC for the OLS User Guide and other system
documentation at (919) 541-2777.

Information Access Branch, Information Management and Services Division
February 1992
Printed on Recycled Paper

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Search Options
The OLS search options correspond to fields in
the various databases. To search for items with
Information In a particularfleld. use the follow-
ing two-letter options:
AU Enter the author's whole name, or if the
author's complete name is not known, users
may search with the surname, first name, or
Initials. Format is irrelevant; OLS searches all
parts of the name separately.
CL The format of the call number depends
on the way It was originally entered; call num-
bers very from one database to another within
OLS. It is always wise to end the call number
search with a wildcard character *•*.
CS Enter a whole or partial name. OLS
searches all corporate source fields.
KY Enter a keyword or phrase which will be
searched In all title, subject and abstract fields
simultaneously. Use quotation marks If the
phrase Includes spaces.
RN Enter the entire number, If known. Enter
only the beginning letters of the report If
searching for all reports from a specific agency.
Spaces and punctuation may be omitted. It Is
wise to use a wildcard character"" at the end
of the search statement.
TI Enter a word, phrase or complete title,
without articles such as "a" or "the". Use quota-
tion marks If the phrase includes spaces.
YR Enter a four-digit publication year. It Is
possible to use a wildcard character but the
resulting search will be extremely slow.
Searching Tips & Tricks
~	Use the wildcard character"** to
truncate a word or phrase.
Ex. T)>«nv* prot* agency or KY-'Hazard
A Search numbers without leading zeros.
Ex. FINDOCLC-514174
~	Search strings containing blanks MUST be
enclosed In double quotation marks.
Ex. "JohnmuJr" or "QH104.M85 1986"
~	You may search for year of publication in
the format YYYY for a specific year, or
YWV:YYYY for a range of years.
Ex. YR-1990; YR-1989:1991
~	When searching numeric fields such as the
year of publication, you can search for
a set of values defined by the following
logicar operators: Greater Than (GT); Less
Than (LT); Greater Than or Equal to (GE);
Less Than or Equal to CLE); or Equal to (EQ).
~	You may "stack'some commands:
Ex. # ): H TI H AU - win provide information
on Title searching and then on author
searching without returning to the Patron
Menu In between.
Ex. #2: Tl»"sllent spring"-wHt begin the
search with one step.
~	When searching using call numbers, it is
wise to end the search with a wildcard
because not aH call numbers Include
the date. Ex. CL-QH104*
A When searching report numbers, spaces
and punctuation marks may be omitted
from the search request. It is wise to use
the wildcard as the last character in
the request. Ex. BN»epa540*
Frequently used Commands
Cor CLEAR to clear the space used to
display up to 16 searches.
D	to display a list of sets or
items.also used to combine
sets.
Hor HILP to get more lnformatlon
about aparticular option
on one of the system menus.
•i	to: return to Patron Menu.
mwmimm.
SP	to set session parameters; flmlt
search to local library holdings
or view abstracts with citations.
T	to go to the top of the Mam
Title List (search results).
V or VMW to took at a record.
NOfE: Users must use the print and capture
capabilities of their communications software
(for example, CROSSTALK, Smartcom, Procom,
etc.) to print or downtoal information from OLS.
Consult vour software manual for assistance.

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~ Public Access News ~
£\V PIC TO OPEN IN APRIL
NEW BIBLIOGRAPHY
The new Public Information Center is currently under construction, and
planned to open in April. If everything goes according to schedule, the new PIC,
which will be the primary visitor's center for EPA, will open by Earth Day, April 22,
1992. Exhibits, displays, and videos explaining EPA's work to the public are now
being prepared, [from the February 1992 issue of PIC Focus] Plans for the new
PIC space support the Agency's public access program by providing audio-
visual equipment, topic-oriented or program-specific displays, and a small
auditorium. Consult "Planning a New Public Information Center" in the July
issue of INFO ACCESS for more details about the new PIC.
II
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.
Chemicals in Your Community: A Guide to the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act, September 1988, U.S. EPA.
Endangered Species Protection Program as it Relates to Pesticide
Regulatory Adivities: Report to Congress, May 1991, Office of
Pesticides and Toxic Substances. EPA 540-09-91-120.
Public/Private Partnerships Save Cities Millions: An Environmental
Management Option, August 1990, Office of Water.
U.S. Environmental Policy and Economic Growth: How Do We Fare?
(Speech by Deputy Administrator Henry Habicht), September 12,
1991, Office of Communications and Public Affairs. 175-K-92-003.
The following Proposed Acid Rain Rules Fact Sheets were
published by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation in December 1991.
Allowance System: Proposed Acid Rain Rule, 400/1-91-034.
Continuous Emission Monitoring: Proposed Acid Rain Rule,
400/1-91-036.
Environmental Benefits, 400/1-91-039.
Excess Emissions: Proposed Acid Rain Rule, 400/1-91-037.
Permits: Proposed Acid Rain Rule, 400/1-91-035.
Proposed Acid Rain Rules: Overview, 400/1-91-038.
A new bibliographic report,
Public Information Access, is available
from the Information Access Branch.
The report includes summaries of
issues such as policy, access
mechanisms, legislation, and
initiatives. The report was
distributed widely to EPA staff and
used for presentations, exhibits, and
forums on public access. If you
would like a copy of the bibliography
contact the Public Information Center
at FTS 260-7751.
MONTHLY HOTLINE REPORT
Just this month the Office of
Solid Waste took another step to
improve public access at EPA. No
longer is it necessary for the public
and regulated community to request
the ever popular RCRA*/
Superfund/ OUST* and EPCRA*
Monthly Hotline Reports through the
Freedom of Information Act Process.
The complete set of Monthly Hotline
Reports (June 1982 to present) are
now available at the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS)
individually or by subscription.
OSWER also plans to make subject
matter indices and a 1991 Annual
Hotline Report available through
NTIS.
In addition, excerpts from the
Hotline Report's "Question and
Answer" and "Publications" sections
are available through the Clean-Up
Information Bulletin Board System
(CLU-IN). For more information
regarding the Hotline, contact
Barbara Roth, Project Officer, at FTS
260-2858. [Contributed by Barbara
Roth, Office of Solid Waste &
Emergency Response]
* RCRA = Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act; OUST = Office of
Underground Storage Tanks;
EPCRA = Emergency Planning and
Community Right to Know Act. #
MARCH 1992
INFOACCESS

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Innocents
Online:
A Librarian's
Travels on
Internet
by Geffry King
(contractor),
Acquisitions
Librarian,
OTS Library
... to boldly
go where
no one
hugone
before.
- Gene
Roddenbeny
Back when I was in library school, I was advised to sign up for something called a
VAX password. I got a great deal of advice in library school along with a lot of hand-
outs, but this was one piece of advice I wish I'd taken sooner. Well, most of these
capabilities I didn't take advantage of in school are now readily accessible through
EPA's ALL-IN-1 EMAIL, thanks to a new link to Internet. For those of you EMAIL
users who didn't read the little message header the first week it was up, Internet is a
"meta-network" (that means BIG, folks) which allows you to send and receive electronic
mail messages on ALL-IN-1 from anyone with an Internet address. In other words,
your ALL-IN-1 user list has just increased by several tens of thousands.
Imagine this writer's surprise when I heard that EPA was adding Internet to ALL-
IN-1! Here was a chance to look in on computer conferences, send email to colleagues
all over the world, and even download files from mainframes all over the world. Here
was a chance to save myself the excruciating task of composing a memo on
WordPerfect, printing it out, putting it in an envelope, and waiting for a reply. Here
was a chance to use ALL-IN-1 as I had never done before.
Armed with this knowledge, I bravely set out on a trip through the Internet, which
has been referred to as the informational equivalent of "drinking from a fire hose." You
will NEVER have a problem with too little information on Internet if you do even
basic research on the subject. You may, however, have more questions than ever before,
like "can I get std.dec.fmt by anonymous ftp from the UNUMV LISTSERV or should I
just telnet using TCP/IP protocol" ...you get the idea.
The best way to start a trip on the Internet is to read through the little guide menu
which NCC has provided for us. You should definitely do this first if you have never
sent an Internet message. I repeat: Type "INTERNET " At the "Electronic Messaging
Menu" and read the instructions - all of them. This is important because we have to
add a suffix (@IN) to each Internet address we put in the message header. If you don't,
you will get a nasty note from someone who calls himself "Postmaster" saying "your
email request has not been delivered" along with some other numbers which probably
won't make sense to you. On some systems, this is called a "MAILER-DAEMON", and
it means that you got the address wrong (maybe because you forgot to put @IN at the
end of the message). Anyway, there's nothing to do but try again.
After you've got some small level of correspondence going and you feel a little bit
brave, you may want to try accessing a LISTSERV or two. A listserver is basically a host
machine which services any one of hundreds of EMAIL conferences. To be part of a
LISTSERV, you send a message to the listserver's address saying SUBSCRIBE
  .
The List server will add you to the routing list of people receiving messages from
the conference. This can either be veiy useful or very time consuming, depending on
whether you like to read EMAIL messages. I am currently signed up with three
conferences, which makes for about 5-10 extra messages per conference per day.
Remember that you only have so much disk space on ALL-IN-1, so allowing mail to pile
up might not be a good idea. It is possible to turn mail off or to cancel a LISTSERV
subscription, so be sure to save your "acceptance letter" for the conference for those
instructions should you need them.
One brief caveat here: the words "anonymous ftp" should not scare you should you
encounter them in your travels. This is a capability that we basically do not have with
ALL-IN-1 EMAIL. Anonymous ftp allows you to log on to a host computer an an
Continued on page
INFOACCESS
6
MARCH 1992

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The EPA's Online Library System
(OLS) is the first true public access
service available through the National
Computer Center (NCC) IBM
mainframe. Since no user ID number
or password is required, the only
charges incurred by the customer will
be any resulting charges to his or her
own telephone service bill.
It is anticipated that the number
and volume of public access services
provided through the mainframe will
increase. In order to plan for orderly
growth and the associated support, it
is neccesary to track the public
access traffic. To that end, effective
March 15,1992, there will be a new
number for dial-in access:
(919) 549-0720
The number will bring the customer to
•he IBM mainframe Main Menu, where
® or she will select "Public Access,"
wid then "F" for OLS.
This service will be supported by
dedicated telecommunications
hardware and software provided by
the National Data Processing
Improved
Public Access
to OLS
Division's Telecommunications
Branch. Note that the toll free
number for EPA's NCC mainframe
support is not to be given out to
anyone except EPA employees,
contractors, or grantees.
The Agency is also
encouraging users to access OLS
through Internet, a "network of
networks" that is used primarily by
universities and research
institutions. EPA's Internet address
is:
EPAIBM.RTPNC.EPA.GOV
Internet users who connect
with OLS through this route will find
themselves at EPA's mainframe
menu. They should select #6 - Public
Access from the first menu, and then
they will find that OLS is the first item
on the Public Access menu.
A recent EPA press release
announced public access to OLS,
and since the time of that notice,
Jonda Byrd, the Library Network
Program Manager has received
several dozen calls inquiring about
the system. The announcement has
also been published in several non-
EPA newsletters and journals,
including Clean Water Report,
Ocean News, Environment, Ecology
USA, ENP Environment, and various
trade journals.
The Library at Research
Triangle Park is continuing to
provide documentation to
requesters. A revised edition of the
Basic Users Guide to OLS is in
process, and a new flyer containing
search tips has been developed. A
copy of the flyer will be distributed
with this issue of INFOACCESS for
your convenience and further
reference. #
Internet from page 6
anonymous user and download files, read files, or
generally cause other mischief Once again, it's not yet
an option on ALL-IN-1 unless possibly your account is
set up for CC "Communications Control" options.
Mine is not, so I have no idea if if s possible.
One of the better pieces of advice I got on dealing
with Internet was to Keep it Simple. You need not keep
it that way as you gain expertise, but if s definitely the
best way to start.
Happy Trails!
king.geffry@epamail.epa.gov #
Partners from page 2
University of Rhode Island (Rl)
CharleneYang (401)792-2501	Ico109@urimvs
University of Washington (WA)
Steve Middlebrook (314) 889-5313 c94882sm@wuvmd
We used two directories to locate the information listed on
this page: Internet-Accessible Library Catalog and
Databases, January 28,1991. Edited by Karen McKelvey,
and The User's Directory of Computer Networks, edited by
Tracy LaQuey. Digital Press, 1990.'
Many thanks to Rosemary Thorn (contractor), Library
Sen/ices Office, RTP, for her invaluable assistance in the
preparation of this information.
* Mary Hoffman (contractor) Network Coordinator
MARCH 1992
1
INFOACCESS

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Around the Library Network
Region 4
Law Library
Headquarters
Library
John Nemeth (contractor), Reference Librarian, is conducting a survey of Region 4
CD-ROM users. He provides Divisional and Open Session training and prepares training
manuals for each of the Region's CD-ROM databases. Anyone who would like to request a
copy of his most recent CHEMBANK and PestBank Training Manual can contact John
through email: Nemeth.John.
Six environmental scientists from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic were in Atlanta
for tours and reviews of Region 4 facilities and programs. The group requested a tour of
the Regional Library; nearly two years ago the library forwarded materials to the scientists,
and they wanted to see what other services and materials the library offered.
OSWER directives previously housed in the Waste Management Division will now be
merged with the OSWER Directives in the Library's Superfund Docket. This will centralize
all the Region's directives in one place, allowing for easier access. Beverly Fulwood
(contractor), Superfund Librarian, will be responsible for maintaining the docket.
The Office of Federal Facilities Enforcement is very grateful for the enthusiastic response
of the EPA Library Network in providing copies of superseded CFR volumes. The books
have been sent to numerous military bases and, in cooperation with the World Bank, to the
Chinese Government. Barbara Morrison has been informed that sufficient copies have
been provided, so she does not need any more. In a recent email Barbara commented,
"Many thanks for your generosity and persuasiveness in getting staff to part with their
personal volumes. Together we do accomplish great things!!"
The Library hosted an INFO EXPO in February to market library services to EPA staff at
Headquarters. A display was set up in Waterside Mall, with sample products and examples
of library services. Staff demonstrated the EPA/NOAA LINC, the new CD-ROM catalog.
Contact was made with a number of EPA staff and contractors who were previously
unaware of the full extent of library services. On a lighter note, the library launched a trivia
contest whose answers will be published in the March issue of the library bulletin, The
Catalyst.
Yes, that's right - the Headquarters Library bulletin has a new name and a new design.
The name was changed from (The) Information Broker to IDEA (Information for Decisions
for Environmental Action) in January, but it was felt that there might be some confusion
with another "IDEA," the Integrated Data Enforcement Analysis (IDEA) database
produced by the Office of Enforcement. After some team brainstorming, the name was
changed to The Catalyst. [Note: A catalyst is something that precipitates a process or
event.]
In the interest of promoting better communications between the Region 8 library and the
=P/tet of the network, Barbara Wagner, the Region 8 Librarian, asked us to share these FTS
' ' r staff:
Region 8
US
Headquarters and
EPA West Blc g Room 3340 Interlibrary Loan/Cataloging
Maitav a 34A4T Serials
1301 CorSffiion Ave NW Reference
WashingtofDC 20004 8arbara's 00,06
330-1390
330-1388
330-1389
330-1391
library's mai

ie, answered between 8 am and 4 pm is FTS 330-7616.
MARCH 1992

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