United States Administration And United Nations
Environmental Protection Resources Management Environment
Agency (PM-211A) Programme
&EPA
UNEP
CARIBBEAN
CURRENTS
Volume 2, Number 3
June 1993
EPA/220/N-93-022
Welcome.
.»to the seventh issue of Caribbean Currents—the official INFOTERRA newsletter for National
Focal Points In the English and French-speaking Caribbean.
In this issue we'll continue to look at collection development. Moving from the core collection,
you need to consider the scope of your library and develop a plan for electing materials. If any
of the NFPs have questions or comments on these activities, they would be welcome for
publication in the next issue.
Special thanks to all the contributors for their assistance on this
Remember, Caribbean Currents ts your newsletter, and anything you WOtf!
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tr
SELECTION AND SCOPE
(continued from page 1)
Your Scope should address the most significant ways
in which the materials in your collection can be
described. Things to consider about each item you
add include:
• Subject
• IntendedAudience
• Age
• Language
• Format
• Local Considerations.
You need to consider each of these topics and
establish clear guidelines for what will and will not be
included in your collection. None of these issues
stands alone. Your approach to one aspect of your
Scope will affect the way you consider other aspects.
Subject: This is the most obvious element of the scope
What is the purpose of your collection? For most
INFOTERRA collections, the broad subject is the
environment. Of course, you will need to focus on
specific aspects which are relevant to your collection.
For example, on which geographic area will your
collection concentrate? You should also consider the
depth of collection- whether you want to collect
everything on a given topic, only general information,
or somewhere in between.
Intended Audience: For whose use was the item
written? Consider who will be using your collection.
If you serve lawmakers, you will need very different
materials than you would need to answer questions
from the general public. Are most of your patrons
from inside or outside your country? This will help
you focus and determine the depth of collection.
Age: How recent an item must be to be useful to you.
Remember, many technical and legal materials will
become quickly dated. Other topics, such as historical
information and theory may be useful for years after
they are written.
Language: Consider your audience. Your collection
should contain materials that your staff and patrons
can use. A book written in German may be the most
up-to-date publication on a topic, but if no-one who
uses your collection can read German such a book
should be a low priority for buying.
Format: What kinds of materials will you collect?
Only books and other printed materials? Video and
audio tapes? CD-ROMs? A key consideration for
format should be the equipment available to you. If
you do not have a microfiche reader, it doesn't make
^ense to buy documents on microfiche.
^4^$
Local Considerations: The first five points provide
basic, universal guidelines for defining your Scope.
You should also consider special aspects of your
library. For example, are you part of a network of
libraries (such as a group of governmental
collections)? If so, it makes sense for each library to
avoid purchasing materials which are available
from other members of the network.
Once you have answered these questions,
incorporate your Scope into your Policy Statement.
It does not need to be long or complicated. Now
you have your parameters and are ready to work on
selection.
€©(L(LiCT0©[M)
Selection is a process
Selection should be an ongoing process, not just
something you do once a year or when you have
funding available. You can lay the groundwork for
your Selection process while you are compiling
your Needs List. A simple way to do this is to
assign each item on the list a priority value (such as
a number from 1 to 5). This priority should reflect
the degree to which the item fits your Scope.
For example, a book which clearly outlines the
problems and questions you are frequently asked
and provides references to other resources would be
a high priority (a 1). On the other hand, a book
consisting of essays on an infrequently requested
topic would be a lower priority (probably a 3 or a 4).
Patron requests may also affect how you view the
significance of an item.
You can use these priority numbers in your
Collection Development Program when you
consider your Needs List. In fact, the Needs List
can become your Selection List.
(continued on page 7)
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INFOTERRA IDEAS
nm
One area of almost universal concern in environmental libraries is water quality. It is likely that this
topic will fall within your scope. The following list should serve as a selection aid, identifying some
key publications on the topic. Remember, this is just a list of suggested items, and there are many
others on the topic which may be of use to you. Items marked ** are available from the RSC at no
charge.
. WATER RESOURCES DOCUMENTS •
" Catalog, Publications Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992.
[Contains brief descriptions of numerous useful EPA publications
on many aspects of water including Ambient Quality Criteria
Documents. Includes ordering information.]
** Effluent Limitations Guidelines 1993
compiled by INFOTERRA/USA from the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
provides general Effluent Limitations and a complete list of industries for
which Guidelines have been published
Groundwater, R.A. Freeze & J.A. Cherry,
Prentice-Hall, 1979, $76.00,
ISBN 0-13-365312-9
Groundwater and Wells, 2nd edition, F.G. Driscoli,
Johnson Division, 1986, $45.00,
ISBN 0-9616456-0-1
Ground Water Chemicals Desk Reference, J.H. Montgomery & L.M. Welkom,
Lewis Publishers, 1989, $79.95,
ISBN 0-87371-236-2
Groundwater Hydrology, 2nd edition,D.K. Todd,
Wiley, 1980, $67.95,
ISBN 0-471-87616-X
(continued on page 4)
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• WATER RESOURCES DOCUMENTS •
(continued from page 3)
Handbook of Nonpoint Pollution, V. Novotny & G. Chesters,
Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992.
Contact the publisher for price and ordering information.
** Lake and Reservoir Restoration Guidance Manual, H.OIem & G. Flock,
North American Lake Management Society for U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1990, EPA 440-4-90-006
** National Water Quality Inventory: 1990 Report to Congress,
The Center for Environmental Analysis
[Prepared for the Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency],
April 1992
** Pesticides and Ground-Water Strategy, Office of Pesticides and Toxic
Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991
" Quality Criteria for Water, Office of Water,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986,
EPA 440-5-86-001
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th edition,
L.S. Clesceri, et.al., American Public Health Association, 1992
[Note: Older editions are also valuable; current editions do not always
include everything from previous editions]
Contact the RSC for ordering information.
Trace Substances in Environmental Health - Drinking Water and Health:
A Report of the Safe Drinking Water Committee,
National Research Council / National Academy of Sciences,
National Academy Press, (multiple volumes), 1977-1989.
Contact the publisher for price and ordering information.
The Water Encyclopedia, Frits Van der Leeden, 3rd edition,
[Geraughty & Miller Ground Water Series] Lewis Publishers, 1990.
Contact the publisher for price and ordering information.
Wetland Creation & Restoration: The Status of the Science, J.A. Kusler &
M.E. Kentula, Association of State Wetland Managers,
Ittlflnri Prase 1 QOn
Hardcover: $60.00, ISBN 1-55963-045-0;
Paper: $39.95, ISBN 1-55963-044-2;
Also available from the National Technical Information Service,
Call Number PB90-149758
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Caribbean Environmental Information Center Opens
Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
has established a Caribbean Environmental Information Center (CEIC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Center
is known by its Spanish acronym, C1AC, for Centro de Informacion Ambiental del Caribe. A milestone in
EPA's Wider Caribbean Program, "the 3-year pact will become a major source of information for the wider
Caribbean region," stressed chancellor Rene L. Labarca.
CIAC provides access to a collection of environmental information resources which include documents, user-
friendly software, and on-line reference services such as databases, bulletin boards, and clearinghouses. On-
line access is gained through use of the Internet and standard dial-up methods.
CIAC has four principal aims:
• To facilitate public and private cooperation and involvement in environmental decision-making
• To promote the responsible management and administration of our natural resources
• To strengthen sustainable development programs
» To support reduction efforts for land-based sources of pollution.
"The CIAC is available for use by the public, academia, industry, [and] non-governmental agencies," said
Luis M. Rico, director of Metropolitan University's Institute of Environmental Education. "Also planned is an
environmental newsletter highlighting the availability of information resources related to environmental
matters in the Caribbean."
Maritza Alvarez, Associate Member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and an environmental
advocate, was named CIAC coordinator. For more information about CIAC, please feel free to contact them
directly:
CIAC
Universidad Metropolitana
Apartado 21150
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00928
TELEPHONE: (809) 766-1717, ext 519
FAX: (809)766-1763
-submitted by Maritza Alvarez, CIAC Coordinator
^ NEXT ISSUE ^
Volume 2, Number 4 of Caribbean Currents will be published in September 1993. We'll wrap up our
look at Collection Development, featuring a sample Collection Policy with Scope Statement. We'll
include a section highlighting all the examples, questions, and difficulties submitted by the Regional
NFPs.
Your input is valuable! Everyone is encouraged to send in news items, press releases, announcements,
or just a brief description of what is going on in your country. Any kind of information can be useful.
The deadline for submissions to the next edition is August 10,1993. If you have any questions or
problems, please feel free to contact your RSC for help or information. You can reach the Currents
coordinator by:
• phone at (202) 260-3638
• FAX at (202) 260-3923
• EMail, through the INTERNET, at
library.infoterra®
epamail.epa.gov
Thanks for your interest and assistance.
^ V
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Welcome to The Bulletin BOcMTCl, a new feature in
Caribbean Currents. Each issue, we'll publish questions or concerns of
interest to the various NFPs. Anyone who has materials or information
that they feel will be helpful should feel free to respond. You may
either respond directly to the NFP which has placed the item, or send
the materials to the RSC for forwarding.
RSC Has Publications
The RSC has recently acquired extra copies
of a number of documents and would like to
find good homes for them. If you feel that
they would be useful for your collection,
please contact INFOTERRA/ USA. There is
a limited quantity, so they will be sent out
on a first-come, first-served basis.
TITLES:
An Investigation of Possible Sightings of
Caribbean Monk Seals Along the North
Coast of Haiti
The Distribution of West Indian Manatees in
Puerto Rico, 1988-1989
Report of the Development of a Multi-
Institutional Resource Management
Collection for the Consortium of
Caribbean Universities for Natural
Resource Management
A Guide to Selected National Environmental
Statistics in the U.S. Government (1992)
Chemicals In Your Community: A Guide to
the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
The Economic Value of Wilderness,
Proceedings of the Conference (1991)
USA Needs Information
INFOTERRA/USA has had a large
number of requests for information
on Tropical Rain Forests in recent
weeks. Many of these requests come |
from schoolchildren.
If you have any information on this
topic, especially fact sheets or other
brief materials, please send them to
INFOTERRA/USA. We'd really like |
to build up our collection on this
topic so that we can better serve our
users.
Please respond to the address listed
in the directory on page 8.
Send your Bulletins to the RSC for publication in the next issue. See
the Next Issue box on page 5 for information on submitting items.
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SELECTION AND SCOPE
I continued from page 2)
Using a Selection List
The Selection List is the information you have
compiled for each item you wish to add to your
collection. It should include the following
information:
Full Title
Author (when known)
Date of Publication (when available)
Publisher or other Source (see Looking for
Sources last issue)
• Address and Phone Number of the Source
• Cost (including shipping and handling)
• Identification, such as an ISBN
• Notes, like "Requested by patron" or
"Sample copy looked excellent"
• Priority
You can maintain a Selection List on index cards,
in a notebook, or on a computer database. Use
whatever method is easiest for you. Whatever
system you use, however, each item should be
separate from the others. (That is, only one item
for each card, notebook page, or database record).
This will allow you much greater flexibility when
you begin the final Selection process.
When you are ready to select materials to acquire,
work from your Selection List. You can
accomplish this process in three steps:
• Sort the list
• Calculate the cost
• Modify the list
Sort: This is easy. Simply rearrange your list (by
sorting the cards, the database records, or the
notebook pages) in order of priority. Put the
highest priority items first, and the least important
items last.
Calculate: In all likelihood, the final element in -
deciding what you will actually purchase will be
the amount of money you have available. Make a
running total of the cost of acquiring the items on
your List. You should at least total each Priority.
For example:
• Priority 1:
• Priority 2:
6 items
15 items
$ 748.50
$ 1213.95
•TOTAL:
21 items $ 1962.45
and so on. When you spend your total budget,
you can stop calculating.
Modify: Once you have determined which
materials you can acquire, look at the things you
have not selected. You may decide that
something you have eliminated is more important
than something you have selected. Things to
consider when modifying include:
• Source: If your source is unreliable, you
may not want to set aside the funds for
something you may not really get
• Cost: Will the item go down in price, or
become available from a less expensive
(or free) source? If so, you may want to
wait for that to happen
• Requests: If someone asked you specifically
to acquire something, it may be more
important to acquire than its priority
indicates
• Recommendation: How much do you know
about the item? You may want to order
something for which you have a complete
authoritative review rather than another
item for which you have only a brief
publisher's description.
Keep modifying your list until you are satisfied
that you are getting the most for your money.
Once you have decided what you will be
ordering, you have finished the Selection Process!
Ongoing Selection
Don't be discouraged by budgets and costs.
Remember, Selection is a process. Keep your
Needs List in the back of your mind. You may
find that you can acquire items for free from other
members of the Region or at meetings. Always be
on the lookout for materials that will be useful for
your collection. If you come across a document
that fits in your scope, get it whenever you can.
This will give you even more flexibility in
performing your final Selection process.
Remember, too, that you are part of a network.
Keep in touch with other NFPs in the Region.
They may have access to materials or contacts that
you don't. If we share our resources, we can all
develop better and more useful Environmental
Information Collections.
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fr
AROUND THE REGION
NEW NFP CONTACTS:
We have changes in two of the Region's National Focal Points this issue.
• Dr. Donald Cooper is the new director of INFOTERRA/Bahamas, replacing Glenn Archer.
• INFOTERRA/Saint Lucia has moved to the Ministry of Planning, Personnel, Establishment and
Training, and is now under the direction of Vanesta Moses-Felix.
A warm INFOTERRA welcome to the new directors. We look forward to working with you!
<
NFP DIRECTORY
(Please notify your RSC of any changes.)
Dr. Donald Cooper
Marguerite Blemur
Department of Environmental Health Services
Minlstere de l'Agrlculture et des Resources Naturelles
P.O. Box N-3729
et du Developpement Rural
Nassau. THE BAHAMAS
P.O. Box 1441
Telephone: (809) 322-4908 FAX: (809) 322-3607
Port-au-Prince, HAITI
Telephone: 509-22-1867 FAX: 509-22-3599
Vernese Inniss
Administrative Officer (Environment)
Sharon O'Connor
Ministry of Labour, Consumer Affairs and
Natural Resources Conservation Divlson
the Environment
Ministry of Tourism & the Environment
Marine House, Hastings
53 1/2 Molynes Road, P.O. Box 305
St. Michael. 29, BARBADOS
Kingston 10, JAMAICA
Telephone: (809) 427-2326 FAX: (809) 426-8959
Telephone: (809) 923-5155/5125 FAX: (809)923-5070
Jaime Vlllanueva
Vanesta Moses-Felix
Fisheries Department
Government Documentallst
Princess Margaret Drive
Ministry of Planning, Personnel,
P.O. Box 148
Establishment, and Training
Belize City. BELIZE
Documentation Center
Telephone: 501-2-44552 FAX: 501-2-32983
P.O. Box 709
Castries, ST. LUCIA
Telephone: (809)453-1960 FAX: (809)453-1080
The Director
Forestry and Wildlife Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Emma J. McNamara
Roseau, DOMINICA
INFOTERRA/USA
Telephone: (809) 8240, ext. 270 or 282
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Headquarters Llbraiy
Room 2904, PM-211A
Mavis Taylor
401 M Street, S. W.
INFOTERRA Director
Washington, D. C. 20460, USA
c/o UNDP
Telephone: (202) 260-5917 FAX: (202) 260-3923
P.O. Box 10960
Georgetown, GUYANA
FAX: 592-2 62942
))
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