United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211D)
EPA 220-N-93-002
Issue Number 25
January 1993
«EPA INFO ACCESS
Library Network Communications
Why Do We Need a Library Strategy?
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD
Happy New Year! Traditionally
this is the time of the year when
we take a look at the status quo
and make resolutions about how
we will improve the way we do
things. Just as we do this for our
personal affairs, it is also a good
time to evaluate the status of our
professional affairs and think
about how to improve the way our
library and library network does
things.
So let's look at the network...
The EPA Library Network was
established over 20 years ago.
During that time we have seen
times of growth and expansion,
and times of budget reductions
and downsizing. We have
survived as a network because
we have an important mission -
one that is integral to the mission
of the Environmental Protection
Agency. We have also survived
because the network consists of
Efficient and cost-effective
access to information
and data about the environment
and related scientific, technical,
management and policy
information is critical
to the ability of the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
to carry out its mission.
Chapter 12 - Library Services,
IRM Policy Manual
a group of professionals that are
dedicated to providing quality
service to their clients.
We can be certain the network
will continue because each library
in the network is supported by all
the libraries. Individual libraries
may be suffering during one fiscal
cycle or the next because of a lack
of resources but they can still
function because of the support of
the network. During difficult times
librarians can still share their
expertise and resources. They can
use the opportunity to plan,
change, improve for the future. It
may be difficult to look beyond
current problems and draft long-
range plans, but that is the type of
activity that sustains us as a
network.
To that end it is time that we
look again at the library network
strategy. The library network first
developed a strategy in 1987, and
it has been updated periodically
since that year, the latest update
coming in 1990. The focus of the
strategy has shifted over the
years, but the mission of the
network remains the same:
Continued on page 2
In this issue...
ACCESS EPA Online
Electronic information delivery:
Headquarters
OPPT
Region 1
Annapolis
Library Strategy Case Studies:
Region VII
EMSL- Las Vegas
National Library for the Environment
Around the Library Network
List of Publications at PIC
Printed on Recycled Paper

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Strategy from page 1
to effectively utilize library resources to support
the Agency's mission. Some adjustments have
been made to help the libraries adapt to a changing
budgetary climate, but most have been made to
accomodate developments in information
technology.
The network strategy is an important tool in our
continuing effort to make the library network integral
to EPA and to change perceptions about what
libraries are all about. Strategies help managers and
librarians prioritize needs, justify resource requests,
and gain management support. The network
strategy, comprised of a mission statement, goals,
objectives, and action items, is intended as a model
- a starting point for each of the individual libraries.
From that starting point each library can take
pertinent elements and develop its own plan with
realistic goals and objectives.
Some libraries have already started to develop
their own strategies, for example, the Region VII
Library in Kansas City and the EMSL-Las Vegas
Library. See the article on page 6 that describes
their plans.
A strategy for a network such as the EPA
Library Network is most effective if it reflects the
ideas and needs of its members. I have worked
with a few network members to produce a revised
draft strategy, and will be asking the network to
review it. I will be sending out copies of the draft
strategy for their comments and input. This is your
opportunity to help us plan for the future, and I
appreciate your assistance. A
ACCESS
INFO ACCESS, 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: (202) 260-7762.
Electronic mail: Hoffman. Mary.
'ACCESS EPA Online!
The database version of ACCESS EPA is up and
running as part of the Online Library System
(OLS). ACCESS EPA Online contains information
from the printed ACCESS EPA, a directory of U.S.
EPA and other public sector information sources,
which is maintained by the Office of Information
Resources Management. The information in the
database was taken from the completely revised
1992 edition of ACCESS EPA.
There are about 300 records in the database, all
providing contact information, brief descriptions,
and, where appropriate, ordering information.
The items are grouped into ten chapters. These
chapters may be used to conduct a general search
by information medium, such as hotline, database,
model, clearinghouse, etc. An online overview
outlines the type of information contained in each
chapter.
Subject searching may be conducted in each
of twelve fields, and the KEYWORD field can be
used to locate information in the subject,
description, means of access and products/
outreach fields in one combined search. Users can
also search the subject, title, public contact,
description, sponsoring office, means of access,
products/outreach, and address fields separately.
Jonda Byrd, Suzanne Annand, and Ann Dugan
(contractor), IMSD, worked with computer
support staff in Research Triangle Park to modify
search options and improve ease of access to the
information. They also developed a system
overview and Help screens to assist novice and
occasional users. After a few modifications, the
database became available through the public
access menus in late December.
Supplemental information from the printed
volume of ACCESS EPA, such as that on EPA's
background and organization, a list of Federal
depository libraries, non-library state contacts, and
a list of acronyms is included in the online version.
Most of this information can be found in the title
field.
For additional information on ACCESS EPA
products and services contact Suzanne Annand,
Information Management and Servics Division, at
(202) 260-8298, or Ann Dugan (contractor), Public
Access Librarian, at (202) 260-2049. *
1NFOACCESS
JANUARY 1993

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Delivering Information
|	Electronically!!	I
As more sophisticated technology becomes available to information providers they will have to learn how
how to apply it. For example, as the number and use of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks
(WANs) multiply, the sophistication of the users will increase proportionately. Information providers will have
to develop ways to effectively use new systems such as LANs to make information available to their clients.
We have discovered that a number of EPA libraries are providing information to Agency clients electronically
and thought you'd like to know more about it. We have selected four examples of this type of electronic
dissemination: the Transition Sen/ice from the Headquarters Library, the Mid-Morning Newsbreak from the
OPPT Library, and Federal Register Updates from the Region 1 and CRL-Annapolis libraries.
We have also added items from Congressional
Quarterly's Weekly Report, BNA's Daily Executive
Report and Inside EPA's Environmental Policy Alert.
The final version of the news service is uploaded
into All-in-One and sent out over that system to
individuals on the distribution list.
The original distribution list included Assistant
and Deputy Assistant Administrators, Regional and
Assistant Regional Administrators, SIRMOs, and
Office of Administration and Resources
Management (OARM) Office and Division Directors.
At the request of Christian Holmes, AA, OARM, the
EPA transition team was included in the distribution
list. The service has also been distributed to the
EPA Library Network, for other libraries to share
with their clients. We've maintained an "open door"
policy, adding any EPA employee who requests to
have their name added. In addition, paper copies
of the daily alerts and the full text of relevant news
articles are posted on a bulletin board in the
Headquarters Library, for library browsers to
peruse.
The response to the service has been
overwhelmingly positive. Agency staff are eager to
receive this information, and appear to enjoy having
it delivered to their desktop. If the number of people
asking to be added to the distribution list is an
indicator, this service is a hit!
Continued on page 4
The Headquarters Library's Transition
Service by Lois Ramponi (contractor), Head
Librarian, HQ Library
At the request of the Information Management
and Services Division, Headquarters Library staff
developed an electronic current awareness service
containing materials relating to the presidential
traarttion. The alert service is sent out daily via
All^One and is intended to continue until the
presidential inauguration on January 20, 1993.
A reference librarian conducts an online search
in DIALOG to locate articles in the Washington Post
and the wire services and then downloads the full
text. Knowing how busy our clients are, the librarian
extracts the most interesting or relevant portions of
lengthy articles for inclusion. The librarian also
scans the New York Times and the Wall Street
Journal daily for relevant articles. Excerpts from
these articles are then added to the service.
JANUARY 1993
3
INFOACCESS

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More on Delivering Information Electronically
[from page 3]
OPPT Library's Mid-Morning
Newsbreakby Randy Brinkhuis (contractor),
Librarian, OPPT Library with Mary Hoffman
(contractor), Network Coordinator
The OPPT Library in Washington developed an
electronic current awareness service called
MID-MORNING NEWSBREAK. It provides relevant
information to people on a timely basis, and
promotes the library and its resources. Much of the
news featured in NEWSBREAK is I ate-breaking,
non-technical, and time-sensitive. In other words, a
perfect product for distributing to agency staff at the
speed of light.
NEWSBREAK is one way the library tells you
what is happening "out there." It is also one way of
alerting you to what's "down here," that is, in the
basement of the Northeast Mall (401 M Street, SW,
Washington, DC) where the OPPT Library is
located. NEWSBREAK provides a 'window" to the
library which is physically separated from its
principal clients in the East Tower and other distant
points in the Waterside Mall complex. Without
leaving their office or cubicle EPA staff are linked
electronically to the library and its resources.
Hence the library's motto,
Closer to you than
you might Imagine.
MID-MORNING NEWSBREAK is one of several
current awareness tools provided by the staff of the
OPPT Library. Each weekday morning, a library
employee scans the Washington Post, New York
Times, and Wall Street Journal, as well as other
newspapers and periodicals for information related
to the mission of EPA and the Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics. Staff select news items and
provide quotes or abstracts to produce a concise,
easy-to-read summary of the news-of-the-day about
toxics, pollution prevention, and the chemical
industry. NEWSBREAK is then transmitted from
the library to its readers via AII-in-1.
The aim of the staff is to keep NEWSBREAK to
a maximum of two pages. The staff monitor and
include news about toxic chemicals from a human
health and ecological perspective; risk assessment
and communication; pollution prevention; the
chemical manufacturing industry; biotechnology;
EPA science policy as well as some general
environmental information. Articles on government
action about specific chemicals are highlighted.
Articles on Superfund, hazardous waste, acid rain,
and global warming are generally not included.
Occasionally the staff will include announcements of
OPPT Library acquisitions, products and services
and announcements, or relevant Congressional
hearings. Highlights from major journals and other
publications of interest to OPPT staff are also
included.
NEWSBREAK involves an initial investment of
time to locate and enter the articles, but once that is
accomplished, no additional effort is needed to send
out extra copies. The savings in time, paper, and
energy are noteworthy. The library can be flexible
about the service: it will send NEWSBREAK on a
weekly basis to those who request it; the weekly
update is a much larger document, sometimes 5-10
pages long. Or the library can suspend delivery of
NEWSBREAK to individual requesters for any time
period requested. The staff also keeps a paper copy
of NEWSBREAK in the library for users to scan.
The library keeps a copy of all articles cited in
NEWSBREAK for those who want to read the full
text. They caution readers, though, that their
newspapers are discarded after three weeks.
Copies of articles that have "lasting value" are
added to the library's vertical file. EPA staff and
contractors located off-site can request copies of
articles via interlibrary loan through their local or
Regional EPA library.
NEWSBREAK has received an enthusiastic
response from EPA staff and contractors alike.
OPPT Library staff continue to explore other means
of making NEWSBREAK availablfcontinucd on ^ 5
INFOACCESS
JANUARY 1993

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cTfu trend of CiBrary policy is cCearCy toward
the ideal of making all information
aixiilaBle untfiout delay to all people.
¦ ThiSqffutan Tootworki lUtuiTaud "Encyclopedia,
QrotitT 'Electronic 'Publishing, Inc.
Region 1 s Federal Register Service
by Peg Nelson (contractor), Regional Manager,
Region 1 Library
The Region 1 Library recently began promoting
its electronic version of the Federal Register Table
of Contents Service to all Regional staff. The library
can now deliver the consolidated Table of Contents
for EPA listings from the weekly Federal Register
(CD/FR from Counterpoint Inc.) to an unlimited
number of Regional requesters via the Local Area
Network (LAN).
The service began several years ago with
distribution of a photocopied version of the Table of
Contents to a select group of recipients. With the
recent implementation of a new electronic capability,
the distribution was broadened and currently
includes 35 subscribers from Air, Environmental
Services, Regional Council, Water, Waste, and
Planning & Management divisions.
The electronic delivery of this information saves
staff time in preparation, eliminates photocopying
and mailing, and is easy for the recipient to read
and delete. Subscribers can easily locate the full
text of items of interest either in hardcopy or search
the CD/FR from their WordPerfect Office menu and
read, print or download selected text.
One staff member has two long rules (100
pages or so) in electronic format for easy searching
using WordPerfect word search capability. He can
then turn to hard copy or keep reading the electronic
version. Text is ready for incorporation into letters,
memos, draft rulemaking for states, etc.
Annapolis' Federal Register Summary
by Arlene Howard (contractor), CRL Librarian
Each week the Librarian at the Central Regional
Laboratory (CRL) prepares two documents for
electronic delivery to EPA staff: a bulletin titled
INFOstructure and a Federal Register summary.
This information helps to inform CRL's staff about
literature in the environmental chemistry field and
EPA regulations. The documents are distributed
electronically via LAN on WordPerfect Office.
INFOstructure contains brief citations for articles
of interest relating to environmental chemistry and
lab safety, EPA regulations, news, newsletters,
books, and documents received during the previous
week and notices of upcoming meetings of interest
to CRL's staff. The Federal Register summary lists
rules, proposed rules, notices, and meeting
announcements which EPA has published during
the previous week in the Federal Register, Section
40 CFR.
If anyone is interested in being placed on the
distribution list to regularly receive a copy of either
of these documents via AII-in-1, contact Arlene; her
e-mail address is Howard.Arlene.
We Know You're Doing It Too ...
We're sure that many more of the EPA libraries
are delivering information electronically to their
clients, and we would like to share their great ideas
and successes. Anyone who wants to share news
or tips about the electronic delivery of information,
or plans to implement such a service, can contact
Jonda Byrd, Network Program Manager, at (513)
569-7183, or Mary Hoffman (contractor), Network
Coordinator, at (202) 260-7762. We will work with
you to put together your information for publication
in a future issue of INFOACCESS. ft
JANUARY 1993
INFOACCESS

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Developing Library Strategies: Case studies
from the Region VII and EMSL-Las Vegas Libraries
N
Region VII Library Draft Vision Statement
The Library/IRC staff drafted the following "Vision Statement" with the intent
of circulating it among supervisors for comment, suggestions, additions,
feedback, and eventual consensus.
The Information Resource Center [IRC] will be an integral part of the
provision and sharing of information within Region VII. It will serve as the
link between the person with the need for information and the source of the
information. The "standard" sources will be augmented by a wide range of
databases, bulletin boards, CD-ROM's, bibliographic software, online
services, networks, and other electronic sources of information. The IRC
staff will be knowledgeable in their use and available for "coaching" or for
searching. All the information sources within the Regional office will be
known to and available to everyone.
The Records Centers, IRC, and Publications Center will share the
responsibility for storing and disseminating information along clearly
defined, logical guidelines, without duplication of effort or storage. An index
to all books, documents, and reports housed in Region VII (including those
in the program areas) will be available on the LAN. ~
The Information Management
and Services Division (IMSD) in
Washington periodically revises its
Network Library Strategy to ensure
that it conforms to the Office of
Information Resources
Management's strategic plan and the
Agency's current mission statement.
IMSD's Library Network Program
Manager, Jonda Byrd, encourages
the EPA librarians to use the goals
and objectives outlined in this
network strategy as guidelines for
developing a strategy for their library.
A number of libraries have
outlined goals and developed
strategies for their library operations
and services. Most have made the
most of statistics to support their
stated goals and priorities for service.
We will take a look at two examples
in this article, a revised strategy from
the Regtan VII Library and a Five-
Year modernization/automation plan
from EMSL Library in Las Vegas.
Planning for the Region
VII Information
Resources Center (IRC)
The Region VII librarian,
Barbara MacKinnon (contractor) and
her manager, Mark Hague revised
their library strategy focusing on the
provision of information services with
an emphasis on electronic resources.
Their first step was to assess the
growth in library services over the
previous year or two and then
compare their productivity in terms
of services provided by Region VII
library staff relative to the other EPA
Regional libraries. Their assessment
showed that improved
communication, marketing and
organization over the past two years
generated substantial increases in
library service: a 172% increase in
requests handled per month, and a
329% increase in the number of
interlibrary ban requests handled,
and that the Region VII library
compared very favorably to other
Regional libraries in terms of
productivity.
Once the assessment was
completed, they began to frame their
goals. They reasoned that
accomplishment of priorities in
previous years relating to centralized
ordering, receiving, and distribution
of printed sources would free up
library resources for the
development of other sources of
information, especially electronic
sources. One of the goals in the
revised strategy calls for library staff
to become experts in electronic
databases and bulletin boards - what
information is available, how to
access them, how to use them
efficiently.
Marketing was also a high
priority, especially since the library
staff discovered that word of the
increased use of library services had
not been reaching the right people.
The staff came up with some new
ideas to promote the library including
weekly activity reports, staff updates,
weekly memos to division directors
outlining service provided to their
staff, and presentations to senior
managers.
Their recent move provided an
excellent opportunity to implement
the new strategy and introduce a
new name for the library: Information
Resources Center [IRC]. The new
floor plan of the IRC is consistent
with the greater importance of
information research and electronic
sources, and the decreasing
importance of books and journals.
Continued on the bottom of page 7
INFOACCESS
6
JANUARY 1993

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A Plan for Modernization and Automation
at the EMSL-Las Vegas Library
The modernization/automation
plan developed by the EMSL-LV
Library is a bit different from the
strategy done by Region VII. It is
another good example of the type
of long-range planning the EPA
library network should be doing.
Carnille Clark Wallin (contractor)
EMSL Librarian, coordinated the
discussion that went into this five-
year plan. The Introduction to the plan
states that "the goal is to utilize
available resources to anticipate
and respond to the information
requirements of EPA staff to further
the mission of the Laboratory." It
explains that it is the first of a
succession of five-year plans that
will present recommendations for
expanding and improving library
services through the automation
and modernization of basic library
functions.
The library stalf projects that the
modernization process will take two
fiscal year cycles to complete, after
which the plan will evolve into an
automation plan. [The distinction is
explained in more detail in the text of
the plan.] The introductory text also
states that future revisbns of the plan
will include special emphasis on
library automation considerations in
light of a planned new facility.
Automation considerations will be
based on capabilities identified in an
EMSL-LV Library space plan and will
include the continued incorporation
of recommendations made by the
Library Advisory Committee.
Modernization
The first part of the plan contains
sections on manual techniques and
automated techniques for
modernization. The section on
manual techniques discusses
the establishment of a collection of
test methods, reviewing profiles for
microfiche, evaluation and weeding
certain collections, drafting
justifications for new photocopying
equipment and workstations, drafting
a disaster plan, investigating the use
commercial document delivery
services, and drafting a library policy
& procedures manual.
Some of the action items
outlined in the section on automated
techniques are...
~	Ensure that staff are trained to
create catalog records for books and
documents.
~	Establish accounts with other
database vendors.
~	Obtain a modem for the
librarian's workstation.
Automation
The automation section of the
EMSL-LV plan explains that there
are two kinds of automation done in
libraries: automating manual library
processes and implementing
computers for increased functionality
and delivery of services. The EMSL-
LV Library made great strides in both
areas during FY92.
The first part of the automation
section of the plan discusses the
automation of library services and
functions. The plan recommends
that the library obtain a system to
track procurement requests for
books and subscriptions; obtain
microcomputer-based software to
produce bibliographies, track library
costs, and manage subscriptions;
and modify existing systems to
provide necessary functions.
Continued on page 8
Region VII IRC Goals
The following goals are outlined in the Region VII
strategy, as drafted by the library staff and library
manager:
Goal 1: To be the link between the person with the need
for information and the source of the information.
Goal 2: To market the IRC so that every staff member in
the Region Vll office is aware of the resources available
and uses them to maximize his/her job performance.
Goal 3: To prepare for, make recommendations for, and
assist in carrying out the move of the library into new
space.
¦Dal 4: To transfer to Procurement the responsibility
and procedures for centralized ordering of books, reports,
journals, and other Library/IRC materials; to retain a
consulting role to maintain smooth operation.
Additional Information
Supports the Strategy
Barb included some interesting supplementary
material as appendices to the strategy: Service Provided
by the Library ; Library Service Compared to Other
Regional Libraries; a Draft Vision Statement [see the
box on page 6]; ideas for a new Wetlands Collection;
Proposed Library Services using the Regional LAN; and
a Draft presentation for Senior Staff. These appendices
add a great deal to the Region Vll strategy and may give
you some ideas for your planning document, a
JANUARY 1993
1
INFOACCESS

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Five-Year Plan from page 7
The second part of the section describes automation that supports the
delivery of library services, recommending that library staff:
~	Coordinate Internet access through Agency and other local
ports, including training for library staff.
~	Obtain additional microcomputers for staff to increase staff efficiency.
~	Secure CD-ROM readers to take advantage of capabilities of the
technology for storing and retrieving information.
~	Arrange to make CD-ROM materials available through the EMSL-LV LAN.
~	Investigate the possibility of developing electronic library forms.
~	Include the librarian as a technical advisor for planning on the optical
disk documents project team.
Related Issues
The last part of the plan discusses related issues that will probably affect
the library's plans for modernization and automation. The following issues are
mentioned:
~	Replacement of old technology with new technology.
~	Library staff training on EPA-specific systems such as electronic mail
and other in-house systems.
~	LAN access for electronic delivery of information to EMSL staff.
~	Continued expansion of office automation at the laboratory.
~	Library staff participation in the optical publishing "loop" for access
to just-published EMSL-LV reports.
There are also some IRM-related issues that will affect the library's
productivity and ability to provide information services. These are:
~	The establishment of a records management program; the library and
records management staffs should complement each other in their goal to
preserve and provide access to information for laboratory staff.
~	Increased cooperation and coordination with the laboratory's Technical
Information Manager to improve access to EMSL-LV's publications.
~	Increased coordination with EMSL-LV's IRM planning process so the
library's plans will be in line with laboratory-wide information resources
planning.
~	Early coordination and cooperation with the Nuclear Radiation
Assessment Division and the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air-Las Vegas
Facility staff so their library collections can be effectively merged with the
EMSL-LV library collection when the new facility is ready for occupancy.
The plan also contains supplementary information including a timeline
listing currently identified resource requirements and a list of library advisory
committee members for further reference.
Sharing Strategies and Plans
The Library Network would like to encourage its members to share their
plans and strategies and similar documents with their colleagues. You can add
your plans to the file of network products by send them to Mary Hoffman
(contractor) Network Coordinator at the Public Information Center, PM-211B,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC
20460. Fax (202) 260-6257. If you have questions or would like to see
something from the file you can contact her at (202) 260-7762. #
At a recent meeting in
Washington, the Environment
and Resource Management
Division of the Special Libraries
Association (SLA) invited Carol
Watts, Director of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Library
(NLE), to talk about the status
of the proposal for a National
Library for the Environment.
Carol is a member of the
committee charged with drafting
the NLE proposal. Following is a
summary of her remarks.
Background
The proposal for a National
Library for the Environment
(NLE) is part of a larger proposal
for a National institutes for the
Environment (NIE) being
promoted by Stephen Hubbell
and Henry Howe, founders of the
Committee for the NIE (CNIE).
They founded the CNIE to try to
resolve a number of problems
relating to the creation and use
of environmental information in
the Federal government. The
proposed NLE would attempt to
resolve the problem of access to
environmental information by
serving as a central point for it.
At the EPA/NOAA Librarians
Meeting in April 1992 David
Blockstein, Executive Director,
CNIE, told that group that the
CNIE petitioned Congress to look
into the idea of a National Library
JANUARY 1993	Continued on page 5

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An Update from the EPA/NOAA Librarians Meeting
The National Library for the Environment
for the Environment and that Congress had
approved a National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
study of the NLE proposal in 1990. The NAS report
and a CNIE response to the report should be
completed in early 1993.
What Will the NLE Look Like?
About a year and a half ago, a group of
interested information professionals met in
California to talk about the NLE proposal. Their
topic of discussion: what would NLE look like?
The participants of this session agreed that the
organizational structure for NLE be a hybrid —
combining a centralized organization with
distributed, network-based collections and services.
They recommended that the NLE staff should
include librarians, data managers, database
managers, telecommunications specialists, network
managers, and graphic designers. These
professionals would work with experts in information
access and the environmental sciences. One of the
continuing and potentially controversial questions is
who the library would serve. The answer to that
question will probably depend on the library's
support and funding. Obviously NLE can't do
everything for everyone, and its service priorities will
be determined by those who pay the bills.
What Will the NLE Do?
There has been much discussion by the NLE
committee about its purpose and mission. Most
committee members agree that the NLE will:
~	Provide a single channel to the Nation's
environmental libraries, archives, data and
information centers;
~	Promote the integration and sharing of quality
environmental information to enhance sound
science and decision-making;
^The National Library for the^
Environment's Purpose:
The National Library for the Environment
(NLE) will promote integrated, rapid and
equitable access to environmental information
and data vital to the health and welfare of our
national interests. The NLE will be a prominent
and distinct entity within the proposed National
Institutes for the Environment (NLE), a new
U.S. agency that will be established to serve
national environmental priorities, set goals, and
support environmental research, education and
training. ~
V	J
~	Encourage the cross-disciplinary exchange
of ideas;
~	Inform the Nation's citizenry by providing
open, full, and timely information about
environmental issues;
~	Enhance business and industrial
consciousness and competitiveness;
~	Enhance the Nation's participation in global,
environmental information networks and
activities;
~	Promote information and data standards;
~	Promote the preservation of data and
information in relevant formats.
What Are the Benefits of an NLE?
For scientists and researchers the NLE will
foster easier, faster and more thorough research,
and provide a public forum for displaying their
research results.
Continued on page 12
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Region 3. HW Technical
Information Center - PRP*
Search Workshop
A workshop entitled, "Online
Sources of Information on
Companies and Their Principals,
was conducted by Dawn
Shellenberger (contractor),
HWTIC Librarian, with assistance
from Region 3 Librarian Diane
McCreary and a Superfund civil
investigator. The workshop
focused on databases available
through commercial online
services to which the Region 3
libraries subscribe, i.e. DIALOG,
Dow Jones News Retrieval,
DataTimes, Dunsnet, and LEXIS/
NEXIS. Presenters also discussed
four other systems to which the
Superfund civil investigators
subscribe - Information America,
Metronet, Realist, and
Transunion. The material
discussed in the workshop was
derived primarily from a catalog
of online company information
sources in database form
assembled by Dawn and her
assistant. The catalog will be
made available to Region 3 EPA
and contract staff through the
Information Booth on the Regional
LAN. Workshop handouts
included the introductory pages
and appendices from the online
catalog as well as sample records
from some of the databases
highlighted during the session.
* PRP s Potentially Responsible Party
Region 9 Pollution Prevention Library -
Reaching Out With PIES
Karen Sundheim (contractor) Pollution Prevention Librarian,
demonstrated the Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System
(PIES) at the Third Annual Pollution Prevention Conference for Local
Governments. She reported that there was a considerable amount of
interest in the system, as demonstrated by numerous requests for
PIES access numbers and manuals. Karen accumulated a long list of
information requests while networking with local government staff
members; she was asked questions on topics ranging from pollution
prevention case studies to training information and funding sources.
ERL Library. Gulf Breeze -
Heavy Metal Research
The Gulf Breeze Librarian,
Liz Pinnell (contractor), worked
with the laboratory's senior
scientist to assemble information
on heavy metals. The information
was used to prepare a
presentation handout for a
seminar on the environmental
aspects of heavy metal pollution
that was conducted by the
scientist at Pensacola Junior
College. Liz has also provided
other information for laboratory
research projects on sediment
toxicity testing and the
biodegradation of hazardous
chemicals under anaerobic
conditions. This is a good
example of the way EPA
librarians support Agency
scientists.
OPPT Library - Using
Internet to Spread the Word
About TRI
Lisa Capozzoli (contractor)
TRI Librarian, successfully used
Internet to disseminate some
information about the Toxic
Release Inventory (TRI). Her
Internet "message" explained the
purpose of TRI and described the
various means of accessing TRI
data. As a result Lisa received
numerous requests for additional
TRI information. Since this
experiment at sharing information
over the Internet was a success,
Lisa and OPPT Library staff are
currently exploring further use
of Internet to disseminate TRI
and related information to a
wide range of individuals and
institutions.
Continued on page 9
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Around the Library
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 (202) 260-7762.
HQ Hazardous Waste Superfund Collection -
Enhanced FolioVlews Version Now Available
Felice Sacks (contractor) Hazardous Waste Superfund Librarian-
HQ, has been working on an enhanced version of the Hazardous
Waste Superfund Database (HWSFD) in FolioViews. The enhanced
version contains the Hazardous Waste Superfund database with
5800+ records with abstracts from the Hazardous Waste Collection at
the Headquarters Library and other related information.
The Collection contains Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER) directives, Superfund Records of Decision, EPA
reports on Hazardous waste topics, toxicological profiles and health
assessment documents, videos, journals, books, and other
government documents. Also included in the enhanced version of the
database is information from the NTIS database on groundwater and
remediation, and a variety of documents from OSWER including
images of Superfund and RCRA fact sheets and guidance documents
that have been scanned in.
FolioViews is a hypertext application which allows users to access
the information contained in databases. Searches can be performed
using Boolean [and/or] logic, and print options and help screens are
built into the program. One of its strengths is that it can be used on a
LAN, in fact a number of libraries have worked to make it available
through their Regional LAN. It is also available on the CLU-IN Bulletin
Board. Users will find that although it will work on a black & white
monitor, a color monitor is preferable. Another nice feature is that
windows can be brought up on the screen and then cycled behind
each other. For those interested in obtaining a copy, there are two
versions of the database available, one takes up 6 megabytes and the
other 10 megabytes; the larger file contains more graphic images.
In the interest of further improving this valuable database, Felice
would like to know if the Regional librarians have ideas about other
information that could be included. FolioViews can accomodate
information in the form of graphics, charts, pictures, and even video or
audio clips. Information in any format - word processing, dbase files,
etc. - can be imported into Folio Views.
If you would like more information about the database, or would
like to see something added to it, contact Felice at (202) 260-3021 or
at Sacks.Felice on AII-in-1.
Network
Headquarters Library -
Beta-Testing Envirotext
[a.k.a. CELDS]
The Headquarters Library will
participate in beta-testing for the
Envirotext Retrieval System, an
enhanced collection of databases
incorporating the Army Corps of
Engineers' Computer-Aided
Environmental Legislative Data
System (CELDS). The EPA,
Army and DOE are the
government grantor agencies
involved in the development of
Envirotext, and they will be the
first to test the pilot system In
1993. When it is complete, the
system will contain state and
Federal statutes and regulations
covering environmental, facility
siting, health & safety matters;
Federal executive orders; the
status of Congressional
legislation; Federal interagency
agreements; Native American
tribal laws; Tribal and
international treaties; and various
other documents. System
coordinators project that the
system will be available for
general use during FY94. #
JANUARY 1993
11
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For the nation, the NLE will
mean better coordinated access
to information which should help
to accelerate environmental
research. It will improve
environmental decision-making
and reduce duplication of
research.
A Vision for the Future
Carol noted that the NLE
proposal is a "vision for the
future," and it will take more than
a few months to establish a
project of this size. It is difficult
to predict what will happen in the
coming months, but Carol
assured the group that the
committee for the NLE will
continue to discuss the issues
and refine the proposal.
The proposal committee is
still open to suggestions.
Although EPA has no formal
representative on the committee,
Brigid Rapp and Jonda Byrd,
IMSD, have contributed to the
current proposal and will continue
to submit suggestions to the
committee. If you have ideas for
the NLE proposal committee,
contact Jonda at (513) 569-7183
or on email at Byrd.Jonda. If you
would like to contact Carol Watts
at NOAA, her number is (301)
443-0237; her Internet address is
Watts@ NODC. DNET.NASA.
GOV. *

202-e
NLE from page 9
1301 _
For American citizens the W£$h»rtg
NLE will provide a friendly
interface with an environmental
community comprised of
government, academic and
corporate participants. The NLE
staff will help users determine the
best sources of information and
data.
US EPA
Headquarters and Chemical Libraries
jtiol
Ave NvPIC
20004
LIST
m
number ol {TO following titles are available from
the Public Information Center (PIC) this month. If you are
interested in obtaining copies of any of the titles, call the
Public Information Center at (202) 260-2080.
Carpet and Indoor Air Quality
[Fact Sheet], October 1992.
Characterization of Municipal
Solid Waste in the United States:
1992 Update. Executive Summary,
July 1992, Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(OSWER). EPA 530-S-92-019
Clean Air Act of 1990: A Guide to
Public Financing Options, 1992
Environmental Financial Advisory
Board. Prepared for the Clean Air
Act Advisory Committee.
EPA's Endangered Species
Protection Program [fact sheet],
June 1992, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Review of Draft Passive Smoking
Health Effects Document,
November 1992, Science Advisory
Board, EPA SAB-IAQC-93-003
(Respiratory Health Effects of
Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer
and Other Disorders - EPA 600-6-
90-006B is available from CERI -
call (513) 569-7562)
Summary of Markets for Scrap
Tires, October 1991, OSWER,
EPA 530-SW-90-074B
Superfund and Enforcement
Program Publications Update,
August 1992, OSWER, EPA
OSWER 9200.021
Targeting Indoor Air Pollution:
EPA's Approach and Progress,
September 1992, Office of Air
and Radiation. EPA 400-R-92-
012
Terms of Environment: Glossary,
Abbreviations and Acronyms,
September 1992, Office of
Communications, Education, and
Public Affairs. EPA 175-B-92-001
Wetlands Protection Hotline Fact
Sheet, 1992, Office of Water
National Priorities List (NPL)
Titles...
Background Information: National
Priorities List Final and Proposed |
Rules, October 1992, Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER). EPA
OSWER 9320.7-041
Descriptions of 19 Sites
Proposed for the National
Priorities List Before October
1992, October 1992, OSWER.
Descriptions of 33 Sites Placed
on the Final National Priorities
List in October 1992, October
1992, OSWER. EPA OSWER
9320.7-061
Final and Proposed Sites [by site
name], October 1992, OSWER
Supplementary Materials:
National Priorities List, Final and
Proposed Rules, OSWER.
EPA OSWER 9320.7-051 *
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