United States	Information Resources EPA 220-N-94-004
Environmental Protection	Management	Issue Number 39
Agency	(3404)	March 1994
&EPA INFO ACCESS
Library Network Communications
Internet and the Information Professional
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD, National Library Network Coordinator
This is our third annual issue of INFO ACCESS focused
on Internet. As most of you know by now, Internet is a
worldwide "meta-network" of government, academic, and
research networks that began in 1982. It consists of
thousands of separately administered networks of many
sizes and types. Each of these networks links as many as
tens of thousands of computers. The total number of
individual Internet users has been estimated in the millions.
Over the past three years, Internet has been recognized as
a valuable tool for information professionals to access
external information as well as a mechanism to share
information with other Agencies, academic institutions and
the public.
As information professionals, we have several areas of
expertise which we can contribute to the Agency in support
of the Internet projects.
¦	Understand information sources and how to access them.
¦	Add value to information by synthesizing and providing
the information in the format that the client needs.
¦	Assess information technology to meet customers needs.
¦	Establish core collections of hard copy information and
linkages to information for just in case scenarios.
¦	Organize information (hat is loaded onto the Internet
client servers so that it is easily retrievable.
¦	Offer our expertise in developing locators, indexes,
abstracts, and metadata for information dissemination.
With the above expertise, there are exciting EPA projects
in which the Library Netwofk can take an active role. This
issue contains information about developments within EPA
as the Agency prepares to navigate the Information
Superhighway. An article on page 3 by Mike Weaver,
Program Systems Division (PSD) of the Office of
Administration and Resources Management (OARM) gives
some background on what's happening now at the Agency
and how program offices can get involved. Steve Fogarty,
National Program Development Division (NDPD) in
Research Triangle Park (RTP) North Carolina, updates us
on the new Internet Newswire Service at NDPD in a block
on page 8. A number of EPA librarians are already active
Internet users. These librarians talk about how they use
'Internet in the following pages. ¦
C	;
In this issue...
INFO ACCESS	2
Library Network Conference	2
EPA Takes a Giant Step	3
I (Attention!! 	4
V	
Internet Used in OPPT	5
My Favorite Gophers	5
Around the Network	6
Using the Internet—Region 2	8
Internet Advances at NDPD	8
Headquarters Library	9
File Transfer Protocol	i	9
Using the Internet—INFOTERRA ... 10
How I use the Internet—
atRSKERL	10
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Library Network Conference
by Jonda Byrd, IMSD, Library Network Coordinator
The theme of the conference is "On the Road to the Information Highway."
The guest speaker is Josd-Marie Griffith, Ph.D. Dr. Griffith is Professor and
Director of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the
University of Tennessee.
Dr. Griffith has a degree in physics and Ph.D. in information science from the
University of London. She has performed research and consulting on technology
applications for libraries ai.J information services for the past 20 years.
She is currently an instructor for the Special Libraries Association Middle
Management Institute on Technology and Applications.
She will be speaking to the EPA Library Network on technology trends,
applications for libraries and implementation issues.
Other items about the conference that could be used:
¦	NTIS will be demonstrating FEDWORLD.
¦	Training will be available on the Online Library System
Special Libraries: Proctor and Gamble, Medical Center Library, University of
Cincinnati, and Quantum Chemical will discuss electronic services from llieir
perspectives.
Conference site:
Terrace Hotel Cincinnati
15W. Sixth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513/381-4000,
Reservations 800/381-0808
Contractors' sessions on Thursday will be held at the EPA.

V
INFO
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, D.C., under the direction of Jonda Byrd, National
Library Network Program Manager. Please send comments and suggestions
to: Ann Dugan (contractor), Network Coordinator, 3404, EPA Public
Information Center, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460.
Telephone: (202) 260-7762. Electronic mail: Dugan. Ann.
INFO ACCESS
MARCH 1994

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EPA Takes a Giant Step Forward on the Internet
Internet is a vast conglomeration of networks and
computers that is a prototype for the Clinton
Administration's planned initiative to link Americans
electronically over die coming years. As one of the first
steps in this process, the Administration has encouraged
Federal agencies to share their information with the public
over the Internet. More than 20 million Internet users are
the potential universe of customers. EPA is cooperating
with this initiative by mounting a pilot public access server
of our own at Research Triangle Park (RTP), North
Carolina. The Office of Information Resources
Management (OIRM) and the National Data Processing
Division (NDPD) are cooperating to learn more about the
effectiveness, problems, shortcomings, and improvements.
We can identify these from experimenting with the server.
Another benefit of this ambitious project is to make our
public access server perform a useful service in satisfying
the Internet community. In this article I will talk a little
about the following:
¦	The server and its environment,
¦	The advisory group that is actively guiding our efforts on
public access using the Internet, and
¦	The need and the means to involve the information
providers within the program offices and Regions to
make our information available to the public.
EPA's Gopher Server
In December 1993 OIRM and NDPD agreed to mount a
public access server after more than a year of investigating
what other Federal agencies were doing, and learning about
the technologies available on the Internet. EPA felt the
need to have a presence on the Internet to "leam by doing."
We made available certain important documents and
services which included Access EPA, The Information
Systems Inventory, the Great Lakes National Program
Office' server, the OPPE Future Studies server, FIFRA
Section 17(b) Pesticide Notifications, the Proposed Rule on
Paper and the Pulp Making Industry to name a few. We
used the freeware product Gopher as the initial Internet
search and retrieval tool because of its popularity and ease
of use. Gopher presents information in a menu fashion,
similar to Videotex, which allows the user to select a menu
item from a high level menu, and cascade through
submenus to the specific information source desiri
Functions on EPA's Gopher include perusing and
downloading information selectable from the menu,
telnetting (remote login) to the Online Library System on
EPA's mainframe, and searching "Gopherspace," the other
1300 plus servers in the international Gopher universe. To
demonstrate the interest and volume of retrieval against the
Gopher server, a short time after it became active, we
measured the public's activity on the server. From January 6
to January 10, we tracked 950 hits against the few items we
offered on the menu at that time. The popularity of EPA's
Gopher continues to grow.
Public Access Workgroup
It is important for us as implementors of Internet services
to include the input of the information providers in the
Agency. These information providers must understand new
ways of dealing with information and the kinds of demands
that the Internet community could place on staffers. To
assist in the transition of making information available over
the Internet, an Internet Workgroup has been formed. This
Workgroup will serve as a two way communication conduit
between the program offices, Regions, OIRM, and NDPD.
We have solicited membership from many program offices,
especially targeting those groups involved with information
management. We would like to encourage the Regions and
Geographic Initiatives to be actively involved with the
Internet Workgroup by offering their information to the
public via the public access server. An All-in-One
distribution list has been started to encourage list participants
to discuss Internet topics regarding public access. A
Strategic Options and Marketing Subgroup of the Internet
Workgroup is dealing with bringing consciousness of public
access on the Internet to EPA's management.
Making Your Information Available
OIRM and NDPD have put together some interim
processes to start the flow of information to the server.
Again all aspects of the existing operation are experimental.
What does that mean? Everything including the structure of
the Gopher menus, the processes just mentioned, and the
procedures for preparing documents (described below) for
the Gopher server can undergo change as our experience
Repository Material
Permanent nnllartinn
Continued on page 4
US EPA HQ & Chemical Libraries
1200 Penn. Ave NW WJC West 3340
Washington DC 20460
MARCH 1994

INFO ACCESS

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EPA Takes a Giant Step from page 3
shows us better ways of doing things. But we are going
forward.
If you have information that you would like to mount on
the server, be sure you have the approval of your Division
Director or designee. The approval process is important in
placing control of a program's information at a Responsible
level. Once approval is obtained these are the procedures to
follow*
¦	We have a process to convert hard copy documents to
electronic form to make them server-ready. There is a
cost for this service which will be charged back to the
originating office. Materials that are already in electronic
format must be converted to suitable ASCII format which
must be presentable to the end user when loaded onto the
Gopher server. The originating office should review the
documents for suitability.
¦	We are requesting that the data providers in the program
offices and,Regions arrange for creation of a descriptive
or "metadata" record to accompany their information
resource which describes such things as: Title,
Sponsoring office, Contact, Date of Publication, Abstract,
etc. We are working on guidelines to assist in
constructng the metadata record.
The goal will be to equip the program offices and
Regions to control their own data and manipulate it on the
server. NDPD will provide connectivity to the Internet and
accounts on the public access server for this purpose. We
wiJJ also provide training to enable manipulation of data on
the server. (Stephen Fogarty (E-mail: Fogarty.Stephen) is
brokering the connectivity process at NDPD). With data
control passed to the program offices and Regions, these
groups can quickly and directly manage what goes on the
server, what comes off, what needs updating or refreshing.
We do plan to work closely with program offices and
Regions to provide the assistance needed to master the
process of document loading on the server. To start the
process and provide a steady flow of information to the
public access server, the Program Systems Division (PSD)
will physically load information onto the server. This
service is for an interim period only. Continuing services
for descriptive record creation and hard copy to electronic
format conversion will be supported on a charge-back basis.
Current and Future Efforts
NDPD and OIRM will continue to improve the
presentation of information on the Internet.
¦	The Information Management and Services Division
(IMSD) is assisting in organizing the Gopher menus so
the information is easily retrievable.
¦	IMSD is beginning work on a policy on the
dissemination of information
¦	NDPD will soon make available another Internet search
and retrieval tool called Wide Area Information Servers
(WAIS), which provides full text search capabilities,
including boolean operations and adjacency searching.
We hope to increase our overall efforts within the
Agency to get the word out about the means to provide EPA
information to the public via the Internet. Please ieel free to
respond with your comments and suggestions. For more
information regarding EPA's plans for information
provision on the Internet, or for explanation
of what is included in this article, please contact Mike
Weaver of the Program Systems Division (703-235-5577,
E-mail: Weaver.Mike Internet: Weaver.Mike
<8> EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV). ¦
"ATTENTION!!
INFO ACCESS Readers^—Verify your address
Starting with this issue, INFO ACCESS will be distributed using self mailers. This is a great cost and
labor saving measure. You, our readers, can help by verifying your mailing label for accuracy, especially
mail codes, and letting us. know if you have any changes.
In addition, please notify us if you wish to be taken off the mailing list. Notify Ann Dugan (contractor)
at (202) 260-7762; or E-mail: Dugan. Ann with your changes.
INFO ACCESS IBS MARCH 1994

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How the Internet Is Used In the OPPT Library
by Randall Brlnkhuis (contractor), Collection Development Librarian,
U.S. EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic (OPPT) Library
Staff of the OPPT Library began
using the Internet almost immediately
alter we found out the Environmental
Protection Agency was connected. The
first tool we took advantage of was the
E-mail connectivity. Several library
staff subscribed to various Internet
"discussion lists" (aka "listserv lists"),
which were in turn used to identify
other Internet information resources.
Internet discussion lists can have
varying levels of moderation (i.e.
control) by list owners and managers.
The level of moderation can affect both
the quality and quantity of "postings"
(or messages) to the list. One of the
problems with subscribing to lists is
that one often has to wade through lots
of irrelevant messages while looking
for those gems that contribute to the
mission of the library.
Several OPPT Library staff have
taken the initiative to forward messages
on selected topics to EPA staff and
contractors (acting as "gatekeepers" or
"filters").
Library staff have also used
"anonymous FTP" (i.e. "file transfer
protocol") to good advantage. Hie text
of the National Performance Review;
the Office of Technology Assessment
report, "Making Government Work";
and the NTIS rule on scientific,
technical, and engineering information
were all downloaded electronically and
made available to OPPT and other EPA
staff. Geff King, Automation
Librarian, OPPT Library, has written
instructions on retrieving binary files
from remote sites using the IBM
Kermit server. (If you download
executable binary files from other
locations, make sure to check for
viruses before you try to run them.)
Anonymous FTP is also what is used to
obtain the General Accounting Office's
"daybook" listing of recently released
GAO reports and testimony as well as
several of GAO's transition series
reports. Several larger files have been
posted on the EPA_NEWS_NET
bulletin board on ALL-IN-ONE.
The Internet tools, "telnet" and
"gopher" have also been used to
identify information sources and obtain
information from them. "Telnet" has
been used to search remote library
catalogs. "Gopher" enables staff to
locate databases to be searched (using
hierarchical menus which can list
databases, text files, and other gopher
sites and Internet tools). (See sample
"gopher" menus for selected programs
below.) When text files of interest are
found, "gopher" can E-mail them
directly to staff E-mail boxes, rather
than forcing us to go through the
circuitous route of FTPing files to the
IBM, then pulling them into ALL-IN-
ONE.
OPPT Library staff have also
responded to reference questions
directed to both the library and various
discussion lists. When misinformation
has been posted on Internet discussion
lists, library staff have responded with
corrections and clarifications.
On occasion library staff have also
sent out announcements about the
availability of new EPA publications to
selected discussion lists. In addition,
the OPPT Library has received requests
from people outside the agency to
receive our electronic current
awareness service, Mid-Morning
Newsbreak, via the Internet.
Newsbreak is sent to approximately
thirty Internet addressees (about half of
whom are actually EPA staff and
contractors who either have no access
to ALL-IN-ONE or prefer to receive
their E-mail on some other system).
The Internet is useful for both
obtaining and disseminating
information. We view it as a valuable
tool in our work to support the
Environmental Protection Agency's
mission. ¦
My Favorite Gophers
by Randall Brinkhuis
Perhaps because I am a
librarian, my favorite gopher is
LC MARVEL (marvel.loc.gov;
login: marvel). MARVEL
categorizes information both by
source, and by subject. One can
navigate one's way down through
the Federal Information
Resources menus, for example,
until one stumbles on the various
National Institutes of Health
gophers. Or, one can explore the
Global Electronic Library and
search out information resources
on the environmental sciences.
MARVEL only allows 15
people to telnet to it at one time.
Since it is frequently tied up,
especially in the afternoons, I
. often sign on to another gopher,
then go to the menu item for
"Other Gophers" (how this is
described on each gopher's menu
may vary), skip from "North
America" to "USA" to
"Washington, DC" to "Library of
Congress". The 15-person limit
does not apply to people who log
on through other gopher'servers.
One of the other gopher
servers I like to use is
"EcoGopher" (ecosys.drdr.
virginia.edu; login: gopher).
EcoGopher provides access to
many different types of
environmental informatioh. And,
of course, the nice thing about
gophers is that you can E-rnail
text files from them. It should 6e
noted that you do not have to E-
mail the file to yourself; if you
know someone else's E-mail
address you can E-mail it directly
to them.
	If
MARCH 1994
INFO ACCESS

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This section of INFO ACCESS 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 Ann Dugan (contractor), Network
Coordinator, at (202) 260-7762; E-mail: Dugan.Ann.
Inside EPA Weekly Report—National Enforcement Information Center (NEIC)
Due to the high demand for and timely nature of the Inside E.P. A. Weekly Report, 1 create a table of
contents each Monday morning and route it electronically to our interested stall members. 1 would be glad
to also send this each week to anyone in the network who would find it useful.
The file is created in WP 5.0 and is formatted for a HP LaserJet III. Transferring the file in a binary
format seems to work best, allowing the file to retain the tabs and holding that make it easier to read
(although the holding will not appear when you print unless you download using the BTP option and then
print route electronically from the WordPerfect file).
If you are interested in receiving this on a regular basis, contact Allison Kcnncy (contractor), Head
Librarian, NEIC.
Headquarters Library Goes Wide With LAN
On February 28, 1994, the Headquarters Library Local Area Network (LAN) and CD-ROM Tower went
"wide," with access available to EPA staff in die Waterside Mall. Agency staff are able to access a variety
of CD-ROM databases, including Medline, Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS), NTIS, the Federal
Register and the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR). EPA staffers are also able to access EPA-
produced databases, such as the Information Systems Inventory and the Register of Lists. "Searching for
Answers: Accessing the Headquarters Library CD-ROM Tower" contains login instructions, searching tips
and user aids for the commercial databases loaded on the tower. Agency personnel have responded
enthusiastically to the capability to "plug in" to the library from their offices. Library staff utilized a range
of marketing tools to promote the availability of the LAN, including a "commercial" on the closed circuit
television station broadcast in Waterside Mall. Lois Ramponi (contractor), Head Librarian Coordinator.
Cincinnati-New Staff
The EPA Cincinnati Library has a new Head Librarian, Joanne Goode. She comes to us from Lexmark
International, Inc. as the Director of the Lexmark Information Center. The Lexmark Information Center is
under contract with the University of Kentucky Libraries. Her addition to the Cincinnati staff is welcomed!
You will get to meet Joanne at the EPA Library Conference in April, which is being held in Cincinnati.
Joanne can be reached at (513) 569-7992, fax: (513) 569-7709 or E-mail: Goode.Joanne.
Also the Cincinnati Library has a new Records/Information Manager. Her name is Sheryl Drexelius.
For the past two years Sheryl did private consulting work, and prior to that she worked for the Albany
Institute of History and Art as the Project Archivist/Records Manager in Albany, NY. Sheryl's telephone is
(513)569-7747.
Environmental Research Laboratory-Corvallis (ERL-C) Library
The ERL-C Library hosted its first Open House on March 15. The purpose was to introduce patrons to
our newly-networked Library Browser software, a user-friendly in-house library catalog currently
containing 3500 records. Additionally, attendees were offered free copies of the "The Big Dummy's guide
to the Internet" (copy permission was granted by the authors). The Open House was a rousing success, with
over 60 people attending and a pleasant time was had by all. Stephanie Bianchi (contractor), Head
Librarian, ERL-Corvallis library, (503) 754-4731.
INFO ACCESS
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Internet—Around the Network
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Environmental Financing Information Network (EFIN)
EFIN provides an online database with publication abstracts and referrals to a network of public financing and
environmental program experts. Listservs arc proving to be an excellent marketing tool. I have substantially increased my
EFIN mailing list and document delivery service by announcing EFIN services, Environmental Finance Program
publications, and Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) advisories, I also answer reference questions from other
subscribers or refer them as necessary. I've even had success in posting my own reference questions. Most subscribers are
good about posting appropriate FTP and telnet addresses, too.
Future plans for the Environmental Finance Program include making publications and advisories available on EPA's FTP
site. Kathryn Pease-Hulschoff (contractor), (202) 260-0420, E-mail: Pease.Kathryn.
ERL-Corvallis Internet Use
Here at ERL-C we use the Internet frequently for the following purposes.
1.	Searching data bases such as CARL Uncover and library catalogs to compile subject bibliographies for our patrons.
2.	During the long periods in which we do not have access to OCLC, we use the Internet to 'borrow' catalog records to input
to our in-house catalog. This assures us that we are using standard subject headings and call numbers, and makes it easier
to later add the records to OCLC. During these times we also check catalogs for availability of items we need for
interlibrary loan.
3.	We belong to several listservs, which we use to inform our patrons of news of interest, such as upcoming legislation or
conferences.
4.	We occasionally FTP documents of interest. Recently we downloaded "The Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet". We
have obtained permission from the authors to copy and distribute it at our upcoming open house. Stephanie Bianchi
(contractor), (503) 754-4731, E-mail: Bianchi.Stephanie.
Region 4 to Access Internet LISTSERVS
The EPA Library Region 4 is compiling Listservs which EPA personnel can access through their ALL-IN-1 MAIL. The
Listservs cover hazardous waste, recycling, air pollution, as well as topics such as computer technology, Federal Job Bulletin
Board, management and personnel topics.
A handout entitled Internet Access: Listservs will be distributed via the LAN to EPA personnel. The handout will provide
a brief description of Listservs, Internet addresses and instructions for subscribing to the Listserv via ALL-IN-1 MAIL.
Priscilla Pride, (contractor), (404) 347-4216, E-mail: Library-RE6-IV.
Gulf Breeze—Internet Opens Up New Possibilities
The Gulf Breeze library has recently discovered the Internet and we are excited about the possibilities!
Our first use of the Internet was searching library catalogs for interlibrary loans when we were cut off from OCLC. After
identifying what library held the item, we could then fax, phone or mail a request to them.
I am currently subscribing to an ILL listserv and gleaning useful information regarding document delivery services, ILL
policies of other libraries, and strategies for locating obscure publications.
We are investigating FEDWORLD for ordering government documents through NTIS and GPO. We are also trying to
find bibliographic databases online to verify citations and give patrons an option for doing rough literature searches on their
own. Sonya Doten (contractor), ERL-C Gulf Breeze, Florida, (904) 934-9318, E-mail: Pinnell.Liz.
MARCH 1994
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Using the Internet in Region 2
by Eveline Goodman (contractor). Head Librarian, Region 2 Library
The Region 2 Library is firmly
committed to providing the most
complete information resources to
support EPA's mission in Region 2. In
order to do so, we have made a
concerted effort to utilize the Internet to
expand our services and access to
information. As part of the Information
Systems Branch we have pioneered the
use of the Internet in the region. Since
last year, the Library has provided
support, both with the creation of a
manual and other reference tools, and
'trouble shooting' user's problems.
Internet access is provided via E-mail,
and for FTP and Telnet, via the
mainframe.
Last fall, after consulation with ISB
Branch Chief, Bob Messina, I drafted
An Internet Primer: Using the Internet
in Region 2. This library publication
was followed by our Internet Resources
series: U.S. Federal Government
Information, Listserv Lists, A Guide to
Environmental Resources on the
Internet, and Internet-Accessible
Library Catalogs and Databases.
These publications were obtained using
both the File Transfer (FTP) and E-mail
functions of the Internet.
Here are some examples of the
information that we have sought via the
Net:
¦	The latest Supreme Court decisions
(avoiding LEXIS charges!)
¦	Contact with an expert on
wastewater management in
Switzerland
¦	Access to the New York Public
Library and Columbia University
Law School catalogs, to search for
obscure references
¦	Using the Internet to facilitate
communications with our Eastern
European partners in Bulgaria;
telephone/fax communications were
so unsatisfactory that it often took
days for messages to get through
¦	Constant information exchanges via
two listservs: Environmental Studies
and Environmental Information
The most telling use of the Internet
came when the Library was asked to
provide reference support for the
Streamlining Government mandate.
While we were able to amass large
bibliographies from various sources,
we had a hard time narrowing them
down to relevant material. A query
concerning the project was sent out via
E-mail to the BUSLIB-L list, which is a
list for librarians concerned with
business information. Responses came
from a wide variety of sources,
including Cornell University, Stanford,
EXXON Corp. and a local government
authority in Melbourne, Australia! The
comments from these experts enabled
us to winnow down an unwieldy list to
more focused references.
Internet use in the region is still in
its infancy; problems with connectivity
and user-frustration have made it less
than a "snap" to use! However, we
look forward to continuing its use and
to expanding our library services as the
information services on the Net
increase. ¦
Internet Advances at NDPD
OARM/NDPD is in the process of developing a state of the art document located on VABS called the Internet
Newswire. The Internet Newswire will provide EPA employees with easy access to information regarding the
Internet. The Newswire will consist of informational brochures, end user guides, articles about the Internet, briefings
on the Internet and the status of EPA's Internet connectivity program and preliminary training exercises for the end
users. The Newswire will debut March 31st in text (with graphics capabilities, currently in testing, soon to follow.)
The goal of the Internet Newswire is to provide EPA employees with easily accessible information they can use. If
you have any suggestions regarding ways to better achieve this goal, or information you would like to sec included in
the Newswire, please contact Stephen Fogarty, Scientific Computing Branch, Office of Administration and Resources
Management. EPA All-in-One mail address: Fogarty. Stephen, Internet address: Fogarty.Stephen @EP AM AIL.
EPA.GOV.
NOTE: NDPD has produced a brochure on Internet for copies contact the Public Information
Center at (202) 260-2080 or (202) 260-1755.
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Headquarters Library
by Lois Ramponi (contractor), Head Librarian Coordinator
Staff from the Headquarters Library, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) Library and 1NFOTERRA
participated in a project to explore further environmental
resources on the Internet. Sponsored by the Washington DC
Environment and Resources Management Division (ERMD)
of the Special Libraries Association, the effort was designed
to start making sense of the dynamic, fluid environment that
constitutes so much of the Internet.
Individuals signed up for specific discussion lists or
listservs, to monitor the subject matter, relevancy and
activity of the lists. These listservs ranged from the
International Association of Aquatic and Marine Sciences
Librariesiand Information Centers (IAMSLIC) conference to
the Natural Resources Librarians and Information Specialists
Discussion Group.
The second portion of the project had staff accessing and
experimenting with a number of gopher sites, noting the ease
or difficulties of getting in, determining the authoritativeness
of the site and identifying useful materials accessible through
the gopher.
Following the experimentation, staff submitted written
evaluations of the gophers and listservs to the ERMD chair,
who compiled the results into a handout utilized at a
demonstration of these sources to SLA members. (For a
copy of the handout, E-mail: LIBRARY-HQ. Please specify
electronic or paper format.)
The project provided a beneficial experience for library
staff, most of whom were familiar with listservs, but had
done little gopher searching. This assignment "forced" them
(in a positive way!) to make the time to test-drive these
systems. As a result of this effort, staff have begun utilizing
gopher sites more to assist in answering reference queries,
using the Library of Congress Information System (LOCIS)
to help in identifying ILL cites, and in locating full-text
materials, particularly government materials such as
executive orders and the National Performance Review
report. ¦
FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP)
by Rose Randazzo Ellis (contractor), Las Vegas
Have you ever been on the Internet and said to yourself, "I wish I could download this file and read it later, but I just
don't know how." The follow paragraphs should guide you through this process.
File Transfer Protocol, or more commonly known as FTP, is a utility that allows Internet users to exchange files. A
connection to a remote host is opened with the command 'ftp host.domain', and FTP then prompts the user for the
applicable user name and password for the remote computer. Once connected, a user enters the 'dir' command to see
what files are available, the 'get' command to download information to the local computer, and the 'put' command to
upload information to the remote system. In addition, it is often necessary to know if the file to be transferred is in
binary or text format. Most versions of FTP use the 'bin' or 'type binary' commands to specify a binary transfer, and
the 'type ASCII' command to specify a text file transfer. If difficulties occur, brief descriptions of the available
commands can usually be obtained by entering "?' or 'help' at the FTP prompt.
A note of caution: It is possible for an unscrupulous user on a remote machine to steal your user name and password
when you use FTP to connect to that machine. If your user name and password are the same on the remote and local
machines, then the remote user has all the information he needs to access your account. You can minimize this problem
by using a different password for each account on each machine you access.
Many hosts on the Internet offer a service called Anonymous FTP. These hosts have databases in globally
accessible directories, and users can download information from these machines without having an account or
password. FTP does still prompt for an account and password, however, and they are 'anonymous' and the user's E-
mail address as described above.
Bibliography
1.	Roy Mogren, ATA Contractor, Las Vegas, NV 89119.
2.	Kehoe, Brendan P. (1992). Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginners Guide. 1 st ed., rev. 1.0, Chester, PA.
MARCH 1994 mMim INFO ACCESS

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Use of the Internet at INFOTERRA/USA
by Robert Hulschoff (contractor), Reference Librarian, INFOTERRA
The INFOTERRA Reference Staff make use of the
capabilities of the Internet on a daily basis. While the
information available on various gophers and FTP sites can
be useful in collecting information for reference questions,
our primary use of the Internet is as a communications
medium.
Because INFOTERRA receives requests from around the
world, it is often not possible to speak in person with our
requestors. Due to time differences, even telephone
communications can be very difficult. For patrons who are
connected to the Internet, electronic mail provides a quick
and easy means of requesting and receiving information.
Internet communication allows INFOTERRA patrons to send
requests for information to us directly, without being
concerned about mail delays (which can be substantial).
Internet also allows us to communicate more easily with
INFOTERRA Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
INFOTERRA has a group mail box, the address for which
is included on our brochures, flyers, and letterhead. As we
distribute more of these materials, we have found that people
are making a point of communicating with us electronically,
including patrons who are making their first contact with our
group.
Once we receive an Email request, we are often able to
provide some information to the patron by return E-mail.
This includes:
More detailed information on INFOTERRA services
Electronic copies of INFOTERRA fact sheets
Ordering information for EPA publications
Contacts and referrals
Even when we need to mail publications to a requestor, an
acknowledgement over die Internet lets them know that an
answer is on the way.
In the course of our reference duties, INFOTERRA staff
have compiled a number of fact sheets on topics of frequent
interest to our patrons such as U.S. Legislation, Test
Methods, and Identifying EPA Reports. Since all of these
fact sheets exist as WordPerfect files, it is fairly easy to send
them over the Internet.
The only complication is that some of the control
characters (such as indentations and bold text) do not always
translate properly through electronic communication. To
address this problem, we have written a WordPerfect macro
which strips the troublesome control codes out of the
document, leaving it legible and transmittable. (We would
be happy to share this macro with anyone in the network
who is interested. Just send us an E-mail message at
Library-I NFOTERRA.)
While not every INFOTERRA patron has access to the
Internet, for those who do electronic communication
provides an excellent opportunity for quick, efficient
reference service. ¦
How I use the Internet or Don't Let the User
Become the Roadkill on the Information Highway
by Cindi Wolff (contractor), RSKERL Library
I use the Internet to maintain contact with the librarian world outside of EPA by participation in a list server known as
GOVDOC-L which was originally created as a tool to connect federal depository librarians who were spread out
geographically and could not afford to wait for the annual American Libraries Association meetings to discuss issues and
problems. As word got out (and it does quickly on the Internet—intentionally and due to over active cruisers) the discussion
group has expanded clientele from librarians to journalists to federal employees to lobbyists who are interested in all aspects
of government information.
If you are in an isolated geographically or professionally (i.e., the lone librarian) various listservers allow you to remain
aware of current trends, problems, and information sources. I consider the Internet to be much like our library science
college bowl team (aptly named: "but we can look it up!"): I do more referrals to "known" gophers/ftps/etc. than I actually
roam them myself. I have two recent guides to government information sources on the Internet that help me find information
that I know exists but we don't have in our library. Recently, I used the Library of Congress MARVEL system to find the
most recent EPA appropriation act. This gave me a reference to a Public Law number and I was able to have the information
dealing with Superfund faxed from our local federal depository library. All without a LEXIS account! ¦
INFO ACCESS
MARCH 1994

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LIBRARIAN
Bankson, John, Duluth*
Barnjs, Phyl, Dallas *
Bianchi, Stephanie, Corvallis*
Bibby, Elizabeth, Atlanta*
Biggs, Dorothy, NEIC, Denver
Boyle, Penny, Chicago*
Bruneske, Kathy, RIC, DC *
Byrd, Jonda, IAB, Cincinnati
Capozzoli, Lisa, TRI/OPPT*
Cook, Alison, PIC/DC*
Craven,Pat, Denver*
Dugan, Ann, DC*
Ellis, Rose, Las Vegas-
Friedman, Fred, Boston/RCRA*
Gamache, Rose Ann, Narrag
Goode, Joanne Cinci*
Goodman, Eveline, NYC*
Honore.Fern, Seattle*
Howard, Arlene, Annapolis*
Knight, John, RTP, NC
MacKinnon, Barb, KC*
McCreary, Diane, Philadelphia
Morrison, Barbara, Law, DC
Moss, Char, NEIC*
Myles, Colette, San Fran*
Nelson, Peg, Boston*
Ober-Beauchesne, Greta,PPIC*, DC
Platten, Joan, Legislative, DC
Pinnell, Liz, Gulf Breeze*
Poole-Kober, Evelyn, AREAL
Poore, Linda ,OPPT*
Pride, Priscilla, Atlanta*
Ramponi, Lois, HQ Lib, DC*
Sacks, Felice, (SF) DC*
Sears, Julienne, Seattle
Sennett, Paula, Chicago/SWIC*
Shellenberger, Dawn, (SF)Phil.*
Sims, Janice, Athens
Stiles, Carol, (INFOTERRA), DC*
Strougal, Patricia, Atl/ORC*
Szefczyk, Dorothy, Edison*
Talsma, Debbie, Ann Arbor*
Thorn, Rosemary, RTP, NC*
Tilley, Lou, Chicago
Valvano, Alfred, TIU*
Wagner, Barbara, Denver
Wolff, Cindi, Ada*
Wood, Patricia, (WRC), DC*
York, Sandy, Denver*
Young, Lisa, DC*

EMAIL
Bankson.John
R6-Library
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Craven. Pat
Dugan. Ann
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Knight.J
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Wotid.Pat
Yo'rk.Sandy
Young.Lisas
* contractor
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MARCH 1994
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