Highlights from the EPA National Library Network
PRO!:
Realizing Our Vision: DID YOU KNOW...
EPA's Report to Congress on the National Library Network, completed in March 2008, provides public
plans for re-opening three regional libraries in Chicago, Dallas, and Kansas City and the EPA
Headquarters and Chemical Library in Washington, DC by September 30, 2008.
Twenty-one EPA libraries are currently open to walk-in traffic from staff; accessible to the public; and
staffed by professional librarians.
Three repository libraries and the Agency's digital archive ensure the retention of EPA publications.
EPA staff have desktop access to over 500 electronic journals, over 300 online databases, and over
2,000 electronic news sources.
The Online Library System (OLS), EPA's online catalog, provides public access to more than 250,000
unique titles in EPA library collections.
In the past year, EPA's "Frequent Questions" reference system answered over 42,000 online questions
through its self-serve format.
In the past year, the Network drafted twelve procedures for operational standards for all EPA libraries.
Customer service feedback indicates that 97% of responding patrons are either "very satisfied" or
"satisfied" with remote reference and document delivery services from the EPA library in Research
Triangle Park.
Patrons served by the EPA library in Cincinnati, including remote patrons, rate the quality/relevance of
results from library services as "excellent" in 96% of customer feedback responses.
The EPA Region 8 library recently moved to a new "green" facility
in Denver, which is Gold-certified through Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) and the first federally-leased
building in the U.S. to be designed to Energy Star standards.
The EPA library in Research Triangle Park has been a teaching
laboratory for library science graduate students for more than 30
years, training over 300 librarians to date.
EPA benefits from the insight and expertise of a federal library
board of advisors and professional library associations.
"The speed
with which you
obtain articles
has been
exceptional.
Thank you!"
EPA National Library Network
Office of Environmental Information
http://www.epa.gov/libraries
epalibrarynetwork@epa. gov
EPA Researcher and Library Patron
-------
Highlights from the EPA National Library Network
Moving Forward: NEXT STEPS FOR THE NETWORK
PRO!:
Details on EPA's
libraries and
repositories,
library services
and collections
can be found at:
www.epa.gov/libraries
Re-open three regional libraries and the EPA Headquarters and Chemical Library
by September 30, 2008, with walk-in access to onsite core collections and staffed
by library professionals.
Finalize the Library Network Policy and procedures, which document the basic
operating standards that all EPA libraries follow.
Conduct a third-party needs assessment of Agency-wide library services.
Provide enhanced functionality to OLS, EPA's online catalog, through a system
platform and application upgrade.
Complete third-party assessments of EPA's digitization processes and update
plans for scanning official EPA publications.
Establish an archive for second print copies of official EPA publications.
Develop an orientation program for new Federal Library Managers.
Designate a Library Program Advisor to assist Contracting Officers and Federal
Library Managers with contract oversight.
Form an internal library board with members from Agency-wide programs to
develop goals, advise on management and budget issues, and increase
coordination.
"The services provided by the Library are OUtStd.tHitn£...
constantly brag about the quality and quantity of services you provide
to my colleagues at universities and in industry."
EPA Researcher and Library Patron
60-F-08-002
PA National Library Network
Office of Environmental Information
ittp://www.epa.gov/libraries
Dalibrarynetwork@epa. gov
------- |