United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211D)
EPA 220-N-93-021
Issue Number 29
May 1993
&EPA INFO ACCESS
Library Network Communications
The EPA Library Network's Role
in the Electronic Era
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD
It seems like most libraries are
struggling with their role in this
electronic information era. We all
have visions dancing through our
heads about what the future
library will be and what it will mean
to us. We know that advances in
technology will be there, and we
imagine what it will be like to use
it. Everyday we hear of some new
wonderful way of transmitting
data.
On television and radio, the
"new techonology" of our parents'
generation, AT&T advertisements
promise that in the future a simple
card will list your medical history,
connect you to a video
conference, allow you to order
products. The state of Iowa has
already gone to a "smartcard" as a
way to access state services, such
The role
of the librarian
is to build the
access ramps
to the new
electronic highway
of information.
- Robert Wedgeworth,
^University of Illinois^
Library
as food stamps, and other states
are moving toward the use of
these cards as well.
So what will our libraries of the
future be? Will everyone have a
smartcard to access a network of
information? Will we be able to
access information from home
through interactive videos?
In this issue...
EPADOC CD-ROM 2
AWBERC SLA Reception 3
FLICC Forum on Federal
Information Policies 4
New & Noteworthy Items 6
Earth Day at PIC 7
NIE Update 8
Around the Network 10
Earth Day in Annapolis 11
PIC List of Publications 12
J
Maybe eventually - but not for
a while, and therein lies the
problem. We all want to be in the
future now but we have to deal
with the realities of today. The
reality is that we still have most of
our resources in hard copy. The
cost of electronic information often
makes it cost-prohibitive for us to
access the information in that
format. We have clients who
refuse to access electronic
information, and others who only
want it in that format. It looks as if
libraries will have to work with
information in both formats for a
number of years to come.
So how do we get to the
future library?
We go back and look at our
mission and our goals. We decide
where we want to be in 5 years
and then we strategically plan how
to get there. In planning, we must
address many issues such as our
client needs, sharing information
resources, intellectual property
issues and how we do business.
We have to develop a plan of
transition from now to tomorrow.
As Robert Wedgeworth, Interim
University Librarian, for the
University of Illinois commented,
"Our job as information
professionals is to build access
ramps to this new electronic
highway of information."
Continued on page 2
-------
Electronic Era from page 1
Recently a few of us attended a session
sponsored by the Federal Libraries and Information
Centers Committee about the government's role in
the electronic era. (See the article that begins on
page 4.) We learned that there are many issues to
resolve and much work to be done before the future
is realized, at EPA libraries, and in most other
federal libraries.
There are some case studies we can follow. For
example, the Committee for the National Institutes
for the Environment is refining its proposal for a
National Library for the Environment (NLE) with new
and emerging technologies in mind. (See the article
on page 8.) Their proposal features access to
information at innumerable sites, rather than a
collection of books, documents, and other materials
in one central location. The proponents of the NLE
have embraced the vision of the future and are
working towards it. Their effort is interesting not only
because of its environmental angle, but also
because ot its approach to the use of information
technology.
During the last monthly network teleconference
we discussed the library network's new adventure
into the "library of the future." We are currently
forming work groups to research and address the
various issues that will confront all of us during our
transition to the electronic era. The network has
been enthusiastic in its support and interest, and we
hope to use that enthusiasm to move the network
ahead.
-------
During the 1993 annual
conference of the Special
Libraries Association, the
AWBEC Library will be the host
site for a reception sponsored by
the Environmental Resources
Management Division (ERMD)
for it's members and other
interested conference attendees.
This reception, scheduled for
Wednesday, June 9, from 5 - 7
pm, provides an opportunity for
library staff to demonstrate and
explain the variety of resources
available in the AWBERC
Library specifically, and
throughout the EPA Library
Network, generally.
Jonda Byrd, EPA National
Library Network Program
Manager, will give an introduction
to the Library Network, which will
be followed by presentations
made by Lawrence Cline,
AWBERC Library Delivery Order
Project Officer, and Stephena
Harmony (contractor), Head
Librarian/Coordinator, on the
resources and operations of the
AWBERC Library. Library staff
will be on hand to give
demonstrations on OLS and
CD-ROM databases and to
answer questions. In addition, a
AWBERC Library
Planning
Reception
During
SLA Conference
in June
Will You be at the
Conference?
Please let Jonda Byrd
know if you are planning to
attend the SLA conference in
June. She would like to
coordinate a meeting
of all the EPA librarians
who will be in Cincinnati that
week. You can call Jonda at
(513) 569-7183 or send an
email to Byrd.Jonda. ~
V )
variety of information hand-outs,
Library Network products, and
brochures describing the unique
information resources and
services offered throughout the
Agency will be made available to
attendees.
On the following day, the
ERMD has scheduled a
workshop at the Cincinnati EPA
facility that will examine the
available environmental
resources provided by
government agencies, nonprofit
organizations, private industry,
and citizens' groups. The Head
Librarian/Coordinator will present
an overview of the EPA
information resources. The
AWBERC Library will also make
available it's databases for
hands-on practice by workshop
attendees.
All EPA staff and librarians
attending the Special Libraries
Association meeting are welcome
to attend the reception, or to stop
by the AWBERC Library anytime
during the conference. For more
information, please contact
Stephena Harmony (contractor),
at 513-569-7992. * Contributed
by Stephena Harmony,
Looking to the Year 2000
Information Professionals Chart the Course
Special Libraries Association
84th Annual Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio June 5-10,1993
MAY 1993
INFOACCESS
-------
Government's Role in the Electronic Era:
User Needs and Government's Response.
A report from FLICC's 10th Annual Forum on Federal Information Policies
The Tenth Annual Forum on
Federal Information Policies,
sponsored by the Federal Library
and Information Center
Committee (FLICC), focused on
user needs and the government's
role in the electronic era. The
Forum was held last month at a
time when new legislation is
being introduced on several
related issues: supercomputing,
NREN [National Research and
Education Network], OMB-130,
and state-based electronic
libraries. Everyone who deals
with information is talking about
the latest development in
computers, and other
technological gizmos. It's
become a full-time job just
keeping up with any single
aspect of technology, for
example. INTERNET.
You can't let
technology
lead Society,
humans
must direct it.
Information and
communication tools have
become increasingly powerful,
and in some ways, almost
overshadow the most important
element - the information. Users
have to learn to control the
technology - to be sophisticated
users, not just sophisticated
shoppers. This note rang through
a number of talks at the forum
and was stated simply but
strongly by Keynote Speaker
Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE),
"You can't let technology lead
society, humans must direct it."
Technology is
the tool,
not the solution.
Legislation on State-Based
Electronic Libraries
Senator Kerrey described a
new bill, S.626, "A bill to establish
a system of state-based
electronic libraries, and for other
purposes," that he introduced in
Congress on March 22, just 3
days before the Forum. The bill,
if passed into law, would establish
a system of electronic libraries,
harnessing technology for use by
the American public in a
controlled and orderly manner.
The bill would:
1) Provide delivery of or access
to interactive, multimedia
programs, research and
informational data services, and
networking opportunities.
2) Make these materials
available to all Americans through
public libraries, electronic
databases and
telecommunications systems
such as INTERNET or other
publicly available Networks.
3) Provide robust and reliable
computer program support
services for search and retrieval.
The Electronic Information Era
The President of EDUCOM,
Robert C. Heterick, jr., presented
a vision of the future in the
electronic age. He noted that
while the economy in this country
and the world has had linear
growth, information has had
exponential growth of a magnitude
beyond most people's
comprehension. [See the box at
the top of page 5 for a description
of three significant "revolutions" in
the work environment.]
He explained that productivity
in the electronic age depends on
the access of workers to
resources and information. Even
in our modern society there are
still barriers to access at the
workplace, and institutional inertia
can still be difficult to overcome.
But we have made some
progress: we used to come to
work and try to convince
management of the importance of
technology. Now we have to tell
management which technology
to use, how to handle that
technology, and how to keep up
with changes in the technology.
We need to rethink how we do
business, and revise practices
and procedures to adapt to the
evolving work environment.
Continued on page 5
INFOACCESS
MAY 1993
-------
The World is Changing ...
Agricultural It made the average worker 100 times
Revolution more productive, and took 1000 years to
adopt. The driving force was labor, and land
was the resulting wealth.
Industrial It made the average worker 1000 times more
Revolution productive, and took 100 years to complete.
Capital was the driving force, and artifacts
were the wealth.
Technological Led by the invention of computers, it has made
Revolution the average worker 1000 billion times as
productive, and will take 10 years to I earn.
Knowledge is the driving force and access to
information is the wealth. ~
Information Access
and Availability
In this session, Jane Griffith,
Congressional Research
Services, Jean Polly, NYSERNet,
and Donald Lindberg, National
Library of Medicine, addressed
issues relating to the planning,
construction and refinement of
government gateways. They
began by commenting that Vice
President Gore's picture of the
National Research and Education
Network (NREN) as a high-speed,
multilane, multilevel data
superhighway is visionary. This
is a place where researchers can
communicate from remote corners
of the world, hastening and
enhancing scientific discoveries.
Students around the globe can
compete equally, having the same
information tools at their
fingertips. Rural and urban
students will also be able to
compete equally.
The speakers added that
although Gore's vision is grand
and the legislation has passed
(NREN became law in December
1991) there are still many issues
to contend with before Gore's
original vision is realized. Cost is
a major factor. But cost aside,
even if there is a network of
interconnected computers
running across the country, there
are innumerable questions to be
answered, such as:
"How do people hook up to it?"
"Who will train users in the use
of the network?"
"Where is the information coming
from?"
The electronic capabilities of
NREN may create a "superglut"
of information, so it will become
increasing important that the
information resources available
be coordinated and/or organized.
In addition, questions of safety,
security, confidentiality and
Ideally, access
will be
ubiquitous,
two-way, and
seamless.
copyright will need to be
addressed. Nearly all the experts
agree that access must be
ubiquitous (everywhere), it must
be two-way, and it must be
seamless if this is to be a true
superhighway of information.
Information as a Commodity -
Fee vs. Free
Users and producers often
have very different ideas about
information as a commodity.
James Love, from the Taxpayer
Assets Project, presented the
users point of view: all
government information should be
available for no cost or very little
cost. Donald Johnson, from the
National Institute of Standards &
Technology, commented that the
fact is that currently most of the
data or information collected by
government is used to keep the
governmental machine running
smoothly, and is not in a form that
can be readily used by its citizens.
Governments at all levels need to
address how they produce
information, in what formats, and
how it is made available to the
public. When developing public
access policies, you must also
build in end-use needs. It is
important to remember that
information is an asset only if it
connects with end-users.
In order to assure that we don't
end up with baroque information
arsenals, government must
establish long range information
goals; practice information
ecology; recognize social costs;
and expand information policy
agendas. Ronald Plesser, Piper &
Marbury, spoke for information
providers when he noted that the
burden of costs for access to the
Continued on p. 9
may mi
INFOACCESS
-------
New and Noteworthy
President Clinton's
Earth Day Speech
"Unless we act now, we face
a future in which the sun may
scorch us, not warm us; where
the change of season may take
on a dreadful new meaning..."
The full text of President Clinton's
Earth Day speech has been
posted on the EPA_ NEWS_NET
bulletin board [on AII-in-1] by
OPPT Library staff (See item
#9.9). The speech was presented
at the U.S. Botanical Gardens in
Washington, DC, on April 21,
1993. ~
Sharing GAO Reports on AII-ln-1
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) Library has
obtained electronic copies of nine General Accounting Office (GAO)
reports on government management and environmental issues, and
posted them to the EPA_NEWS_NET bulletin board on AII-in-1. The
following is a list of GAO-related items currently available on the
bulletin board:
4.6 GAO Daybook Service
8.0 GAO Reports And Testimony
8.1 GAO Transition Series Reports
8.2 Environmental Protection Issues
8.3 Government Management Issues
8.4 Information Management Issues
8.5 Program Evaluation Issues
8.6 The Public Service
8.7 Natural Resources Management
8.8 Labor Issues
8.9 Information Technology
8.10 Testimony on S. 171
8.11 GAO via anonymous FTP
8.12 GAO—Releases 3/1
8.13 GAO Testimony on EPA
8.14 GAO Documents Database
You may have heard about these documents in a notice
included in a NEWSBREAK EXTRA edition; NEWSBREAK is the
OPPT Library's daily information update service. The numbers listed
indicate item numbers in the bulletin board's index. ~
Internet Research Report
Available
OCLC's report, Assessing
Information on the Internet:
Toward Providing Library
Services for Computer Mediated
Communication, is now available.
The report is the culmination of
OCLC's Internet Resources
Project which was funded by a
grant from the U.S. Department
of Education. The project focused
on investigating the nature of
electronic textual information
available through remote access
to the Internet, and problems
associated with creating MARC
records for those electronic
information sources.
The report includes the
project's findings and
recommendations, and an
extensive bibliography on the
Internet/NREN. Copies are
available for $20 (non-OCLC
members must prepay) from the
Documentation Department,
OCLC, 6565 Frantz Road,
Dublin, OH 43017-3395. The
product code for the Internet
report is 8320. ~
Greening of World Trade
The Headquarters Library recently received copies of The
Greening of World Trade, a report to EPA from the Trade and
Environment Committee of the National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology from Jan C. McAlpine,
Director, Trade and Environment Committee, Office of the
Administrator, EPA. Headquarters Library staff would like
the network to know that this publication is free for all of EPA's
Libraries. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can
contact Jan McAlpine at (202) 260-2477, Fax (202) 260-6882;
Mail code A-101F6. ~
INFO ACCESS MAY 1993
-------
For More Information on the
Forest Conference...
The OPPT Library has
received, via the Internet,
information on the April 1993
Forest Conference that was held
in Portland, Oregon, and has
posted it on the EPA_News_Net
bulletin board. The items include
a background document on the
conference (See item #10.1), a
list of conference participants
(item #10.2), information about
an online education effort (item
#10.3), and instructions on how
to subscribe to several Internet
lists to receive the complete text
of White House briefing papers
and press releases related to the
conference. Press releases and
background papers from
environmental and conservation
organizations will also be posted
to one of the lists by the Western
Ancient Forest Campaign.
NOTE: The OPPT Library will
NOT be monitoring these lists.
If you are interested in receiving
instructions on how you can
subscribe and receive this
information directly, consult
item #10.3 and #10.4 on the
EPA_News_Net bulletin board. ~
PIC Supports Several
\^_^__Earth Day Events
As usual, the Headquarters Public Information Center (PIC)
participated in the Agency's celebration of Earth Day (Earth Day
1993 was also the first anniversary of the new PIC Visitor Center).
PIC staff identified and assembled 21 boxes of Agency brochures
and fact sheets for the PIC display at both Waterside Mall on Earth
Day, April 22, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC)
in Washington, DC on April 23-24.
PIC's display at Waterside Mall was one of approximately 30
booths representative of EPA programs, and also of Federal and
local District of Columbia agencies. The two-day event at UDC
consisted of exhibits, demonstrations, "hands-on" activities, and
panel discussions. The event was held exclusively for District of
Columbia school children on Friday, April 23, and then opened to
the public on Saturday. EPA was one of the two Federal agencies
(the other was the USDA Forest Service) participating in the event
sponsored by several District of Columbia agencies.
PIC also supplied EPA employees, as well as other groups and
organizations, including EPA's Central Regional Laboratory in
Annapolis, MD, the Benedict Public Schools in Benedict, NE, and
South Laurel High School in London, KY, with materials to aid in
their celebration of Earth Day.
In addition to providing materials for the events mentioned, PIC
staff responded to numerous individual requests for information on
Earth Day by distributing the Earth Day Every Day Information Kit
to nearly 500 requestors. All in all, Earth Day at EPA Headquarters
was an eventful, successful dayl & Contributed by Alison Cook
(contractor), PIC Director
New Guide to Pollution Prevention Resources
The 1993 Reference Guide to Pollution Prevention Resources, a publication produced by EPA's
Office of Pollution Prevention is now available. This annual guide contains information about publicly
sponsored pollution prevention resources and training opportunities available across the U.S. The goal
of the publication is to provide persons interested in learning more about pollution prevention (PP) options
with a single source of information on:
- Where to obtain training.
- What publications and videos are available.
- Which university centers are conducting research and training.
- Which Federal, State and nonprofit organizations can provide additional information
and technical assistance, and who to contact.
Copies of the Reference Guide can be obtained by contacting the Pollution Prevention Information
Center at (202) 260-1023; fax (202) 260-0178. ~
MAY 1993
INFOACCESS
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National
Institutes
for the
Environment:
An Update
This update was taken ¦
from a March 30,1993
Internet message
addressed to the Friends
of the National
Institutes for the
Environment from Bart
Thomas, Network
Director, and Hank
Howe, Vice Chair of
the Committee for the
National Institutes for
the Environment.
NOTE: The full text of
the Executive Summary
of A Proposal for A
National Institute for the
Environment, has been
posted on the EPA_
NEWS_NET bulletin
board in All-in-1 [Item
#11]; and a copy of the
proposal for the
National Library for the
Environment is
included as an insert
to this issue. #
The National Institutes for the Environment (NIE) effort will shortly enter
a new phase. Over the past three years, the Committee for NIE (CNIE) has
solicited a comprehensive review of the NIE concept in an effort to achieve a
broad consensus about what the NIE mission should be, how it's science
should be delineated from existing efforts, and how it should be organized
within the government. The fruits of this effort will shortly be published in a
series that will include:
Mission and goals statement.
Executive Summary of the
Proposal.
Environmental Effects of Ozone
Depletion (a case study of the
NIE assessment function).
~ Brochure.
~ Structure Report.
~ Proposal for the NIE-
This will be independently
published in The
Environmental Professional.
These documents will form the basis of the effort to establish the NIE as an
independent agency or a semi-autonomous research agency within a cabinet
department.
Legislative Effort
The NIE legislative effort will officially begin with submission of
legislation in the House of Representatives in April or May. The CNIE
expects there will be considerable interest in the bill, and a national debate on
its merits, when the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report abou; the
NIE is published in April or May.
The CNIE understands that what energizes Washington is broad public
interest, so the NIE Network will facilitate a public debate. The Network,
dormant since 1990, is taking shape, this time with far more depth. It is
identifying well-connected regional organizers who can help enlist state or
sub-state organizers (each responsible for up to 8-10 congressional districts).
National Library for the Environment
According to the draft proposal, the National Library for the
Environment (NLE) will provide users with an invisible link to relevant
collections, programs, services, and staff expertise available from libraries,
archives, and information and data centers around the country. The NLE will
serve as "the hub of a vast information network," providing critical links
among the environmental information community.
If you would like to participate in the ongoing NIE effort, or if you
would like further information, contact:
NIE
Committee for the National Institutes for the Environment
[Dr. David E. Blockstein, Executive Director]
73011th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001-4521
Tel: (202)628-4303 Fax: (202)628-4311
INFOACCESS
MAY 1993
-------
FLICC Forum from page 5
information technology cannot fall to one group,
agency, or segment of society. He said that users
must understand that there is no such thing as "free"
information. Whether it's paid for through taxpayers'
money in the form of salaries, or through the
purchase of a book or subscription to a database,
someone pays.
It is o.k.
to charge
for information.
The States and Information Policy
Senator Richard Varn, representing the Iowa
State Legislature, presented information about the
ICN (Iowa Communications Network), a fiber optic
network which, when completed, will place an ICN
user site within 20 minutes of everyone in Iowa.
The Network will include voice, data, video, libraries,
distance learning, and coordination of emergency
services.
Senator Varn commented that when developing
a public access policy, planners need to consider all
of the types of technology available, from the
telephone to photographs to holograms and movies.
They should also consider the issues of access,
privacy, efficiency, use, control, delivery, and cost.
The way these issues are addressed will have a
profound effect on future generations.
Information Ownership In the Electronic Age
The issue of copyright, which was a "hot" topic
in the 1960's and 70's, has resurfaced with even
more twists and turns in the "electronic age of the
90's." Jon Baumgarten, Counsel to the Association
of American Publishers, spoke for the publishing
industry. He noted that the lines of ownership
become even more blurred when information is sent
out over Wide Area Networks (WAN), and a
publication is printed "on demand". Digital storage
and transmission has changed everything.
Information may be "published" as text, in the
traditional form, or electronically; whatever way the
information is disseminated, it is still considered to
be published.
Dorothy Schrader, Associate Register for Legal
Affairs, from the Library of Congress Copyright
Office, stated that government has a big role to play
in the issue of copyright. She said that she believes
that copyright protection is viable in the electronic
age, and she hopes that lawmakers are
developing legislation to stimulate the production of
new works in electronic form. She offered a number
of options that would protect new works and
encourage their creation, including legislated
exceptions, the right of remuneration, a government
or private clearinghouse, the collective
administration of rights, alternative pricing schemes,
surcharges on photocopying equipment, blanket
licensing agreements, and "shrink wrap" licensing
(such as that used by the software industry), to
name a few.
Who Benefits from the New Electronic Library?
Robert Wedgeworth, Interim University Librarian
at the University of Illinois commented that
ultimately the users benefit. The amount and
Information technology
is driving the future,
and librarians need to
be at the wheel.
variety of information is growing at a huge rate, and
much of it will be held in remote sources. The ability
to coordinate and organize the information, and how
to market it, will be in great demand in the future.
Michael Malinconico, a Library Professor from the
University of Alabama, spoke about the evolving
role of the librarian, noting that librarians will have to
work closely with library users as professional peers
or consultants. He said that librarians should
remember that they are not there to solve library
problems, they are there to solve business
problems. * Contributed by Ann Dugan
(contractor), Public Access Librarian; Lois Ramponi
(contractor), Head Librarian/Coordinator at the HQ
Library; and Mary Hoffman (contractor), Network
Coordinator.
MAY 1993
INFOACCESS
-------
This section of INFOACCESS is used to report on upcoming meetings and
projects currently underway in the Regions, Laboratories, and Headquarters.
Anyone who would like to contribute information for this column can contact
Mary Hoffman (contractor), Network Coordinator, at (202) 260-7762; or at
email box, Hoffman.Mary; or via fax at (202) 260-6257.
Celebrating Library Week
in Denver
In honor of Library Week, the
Region 8 Library displayed the
International Special Librarians
Day (April 22) poster, the floor
plan of the new space for Library
and PIC space to be opened next
fall, and hosted an Open House
on the morning of the 22nd. A
special book mark was printed
and the Head Librarian gave a
kickoff presentation at the EPA
Conference Center on "Site
Licenses and Right to Copy
Protected Works." International
Special Librarians Day buttons
were worn by LAI staff, the EPA
Region 8 Information
Management Branch Chief, the
DOPO and Alternate, as well as
the Library Advisory Committee
members. ~ Contributed by
Doug Rippey (contractor), Head
Librarian, Region 8 Library
HWTIC Participates in
Environmental Indicators Project
Staff from the Hazardous Waste Technical
Information Center (HWTIC) assisted Hazardous
Waste Management Division (HWMD) toxicologists
and hydrologists in obtaining information on
chemicals, water quality and groundwater pollution
for the Region 3's Environmental Indicators
Transition Project. HWTIC staff concentrated on
environmental indicators for the Middle Atlantic
states when conducting searches and collecting
documents for the project. ~ Contributed by
Dawn Shellenberger (contractor), Librarian,
Region 3 HWTIC
Staff in the NEIC Library
celebrated Eath Day and
International Special Librarians
Day by inviting NEIC staff to tour
the space planned for the new
NEIC Library. Plans and design
materials for the new library were
on exhibit and Earth Day
materials were available. The
festivities were promoted in
NEIC's bulletin, News Extras from
the Information Center, in an
article which predicted that the
new library will be fully
operational by January 1994. ~
Contributed by Dotty Biggs,
Head Librarian, NEIC
INFOACCESS
Reference Innovations on the West Coast
Colette Myles (contractor), Head Librarian
Coordinator in the Region 9 Library, has instituted
weekly reference meetings to provide her staff with
the opportunity to share their knowledge on various
reference issues. At each weekly meeting the
librarians will present reference problems and
introduce colleagues to new or unusual reference
materials. To date the librarians have reviewed the
use of the Federal Register, selected environmental
law sources, and selected hazardous waste
sources. ~ Contributed by Colette Myles
(contractor) Head Librarian, Region 9 Library
Continued on page 10
MAY 1993
-------
How One Special Library Celebrated
National Library Week, Special
Libraries Day and Earth Day, 1993
EPA's Central Regional Laboratory library, a
small science library located in Annapolis, Maryland
celebrated Library Week, April 18-24, Special
Libraries Day and Earth Day, April 22, by practicing
the art of RECYCLING. Duplicate and older books
and reports which had been removed from the
collection were made available to staff members.
Beginning on Friday, April 16, new items to be given
away were put out on Table 1. On successive days,
the unclaimed items were moved to Table 2, and
new items were placed on Table 1.
The recycling was announced in the library's
weekly newsletter. A separate message was sent
via LAN:
"Come into the library, grab a book and
celebrate American Library Week and
Earth Day. New items each day!'
Staff reaction was very positive. From one staff
member: "Thanks for providing the recycled books
and technical reports. I found about seven to aid me
in my ever increasing quest for knowledge."
One staff member who is not a regular library
user came in every morning, first thing! I learned
what his interests are and set aside a book for him.
V
I had to put the items on the table in the evening or I
would have the staff waiting in the library for me with
a cry, "When are you putting today's books out?"
RECYCLING! The library becomes better
organized. RECYCLING! The staff members get
new books and reports for their use. RECYCLING!
A positive way for an U.S. EPA library to celebrate
Library Week, Earth Day, and Special Libraries Day.
Suggested readings:
Briscoe, Georgia. "Reuse, Reduce, Recycle."
Library Journal, 116(17): 15 Oct. 91,
pp. 43-44.
Briscoe, Georgia. "Recycling: What's in It for
Libraries."
American Libraries, 18(11): Dec. 87, pp. 954-956.
LaRue, James; LaRue, Suzanne. "The Green
Librarian." Wilson Library Bulletin, 65(6): Feb. 91,
pp. 27-33.
Rome, Linda. "Celebrating Earth Day all Year."
Wilson Library Bulletin, 65(6): Feb. 91, pp. 40-43.
& Contributed by Arlene Roman Howard
(contractor), CRL-Annapolis
J
Fax-on-Demand Pilot
Region 4 staff are developing
a pilot project in which
information would be
disseminated to corporate
customers via fax machine. Liz
Bibby (contractor), Head
Librarian/Coordinator, met with
the library staff to collect
information about frequently
requested information that would
be suitable for this type of
service. The project will be
coordinated by the Region's
Public Access Officer, and will
include information routinely
distributed by the library and
FOIA staff. ~ Contributed by
Liz Bibby (contractor) Head
Librarian/Coordinator, Region 4
Welcome to the Network...
Join us in welcoming Char Moss
(contractor), to the Library
Network. Char will be working
with Dotty Biggs at the NEIC
Library in Denver. Her phone
number is (303) 236-5122; and
her email box - Moss.
Charmagne. ~
Continued on page 12
MAY 1993
INFOACCESS
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Around from page 11
Moving the RSKERL Library
Library and laboratory staff in
Ada are enjoying a new library
facility. The Library's collections,
equipment, and furniture were
moved from their old space by
professional movers on March
9th through 12th. The staff spent
a considerable amount of time
planning and preparing for the
move before the movers arrived,
and restoring things to order
after the movers left. Library staff
worked with the library manager
to develop specifications for the
new space, and created color-
coded maps to show the movers
where equipment, furniture,
books, etc. should be placed.
They also scheduled staff
coverage so that someone was
always available to answer any
questions posed by the movers.
~ Contributed by Betsy
Ruston(contractor) Librarian,
RSKERL Library-Ada
Supporting the Timber
Summit
Region 10 Library staff
became involved in current
events when asked recently to
conduct an extensive newspaper
literature search on the spotted
owl issue, in preparation for the
Timber Summit that was held in
Portland, Oregon. Online
versions of regional newspapers
were searched for articles on old
growth forests and the timber
industry. Over 100 articles were
located for the requesters, and
the library also identified several
books containing environmental
quotations for the project. ~
Contributed by Marilyn Hurlow
(contractor) Librarian, Region 10
Library
PIC LIST
CP
A limited number of the 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.
Automobiles and Air Toxics,
January 1993, Office of Mobile
Sources, [Fact Sheet OMS-2]
EPA 400-F-92-004
Automobiles and Carbon
Monoxide, January 1993, Office
of Mobile Sources, [Fact Sheet
OMS-3] EPA 400-F-92-005
Automobiles and Ozone,
January 1993, Office of Mobile
Sources, [Fact Sheet OMS-4]
EPA 400-F-92-006
Clean Cars for Clean Air:
Inspection and Maintenance
Programs, January 1993,
Office of Mobile Sources, [Fact
Sheet OMS-14] EPA 400-F-92-
016
Clean Fuels: An Overview,
January 1993, Office of Mobile
Sources, [Fact Sheet OMS-6]
EPA 400-F-92-008
EPA Journal Reprint: Reading
Gore - The Vice President-Elect
and His Earth In the Balance,
September/October 1992, Office
of Communications, Education
and Public Affairs
EPA's Clusters: A New
Approach for Environmental
Management, November 1992,
Office of Policy, Planning and
Evaluation. EPA 230-F-92-013
Electric Vehicles, January 1993,
Office of Mobile Sources,
[Fact Sheet OMS-10]
EPA 400-F-92-012
1NFOACCESS
HelpI EPA Resources for Small
Governments, September 1991,
Office of Regional Operations &
State/Local Relations,
EPA 21V-1001
Helping Small Systems
Comply with the Safe Drinking
Water Act: The Role of
Restructuring, September
1992, Office of Water,
EPA 812-K-92-001
High-Tech Inspection and
Maintenance Tests:
Procedures and Equipment,
January 1993, Office of Mobile
Sources, [Fact Sheet OMS-16]
EPA 400-F-92-001
Info Pages [Brief bibliographies
prepared by the EPA
Headquarters Library]:
Acid Rain, 12/92.
Electromagnetic Radiation,
2/93.
Endangered Species, 10/92.
Environmental Education,
8/92.
Ocean Pollution, 9/92.
Plastics, 11/92.
Recycling,1/93.
Motor Vehicles and the 1990
Clean Air Act, January 1993,
Office of Mobile Sources,
[Fact Sheet OMS-11]
EPA 400-F-92-013
Vehicle Fuels and the 1990
Clean Air Act, January 1993,
Office of Mobile Sources,
[Fact Sheet OMS-13]
EPA 400-F-92-015 &
MAY 1993
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