EPA libraries

From SLA@Simmons

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Libraries

In February 2006, when President Bush unveiled his budget proposal for FY 2007, the EPA Library Network learned that its annual disbursement would be slashed 80% from 2006 funding levels — from $2.5 million to just $500,000.

A month later, administrators at the EPA’s Region 5 facility in Chicago circulated an e-mail announcing it would be the first to close. By October, two other regional libraries were gone. Together, the three facilities had served the entire middle United States.

Click on the links below for information about the current state of EPA libraries, including information on individual libraries within the EPA Library Network. Much of the current effort includes closing, moving, shifting and digitizing their collections, and managing the associated challenges for information professionals and researchers.

(All are welcome to post new links and update old ones!)

EPA FY 2007 LIBRARY PLAN http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/Library_Plan_National_Framework081506final.pdf

EPA Library Network Challenges for FY 2007 and Beyond http://www.peer.org/docs/epa/06_9_2_library_network.pdf

The EPA closes its scientific libraries, destroys documents http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/interference/epa-libraries.html

EPA Library Shutdown May Lead to Showdown http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061218/18epa.htm

EPA SCRUBBING LIBRARY WEBSITE http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=791

EPA Libraries and Repositories http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/libraries.htm

Closure of 6 federal libraries angers scientists http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-libraries8dec08,0,242958.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship http://www.istl.org/06-fall/viewpoints.html

EPA Newsroom http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/68b5f2d54f3eefd28525701500517fbf/6af2ae3fe96a5d308525724100634dd3!OpenDocument

Editorial Cartoon by Kirk Anderson http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/anderson/051

SLA denounces EPA decision to close libraries http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/pressroom/pressrelease/2006prelease/pr2618.cfm

SLA Legislative Action Center http://capwiz.com/sla/home/

More Fire for EPA Library Closures http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6398630.html

Burger Urges EPA Advisory Council To Press Agency on Library Closures http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6400546.html

ALA calls for real update on EPA library status http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/debember2006/epacall06.htm

ALA on EPA Libraries http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/governmentinfo/epalibraries/epalibraries.htm

Library Juice Library Closings http://libraryjuicepress.com/blog/?cat=26

EPA Library System in Shambles: On-Line System Unworkable After Physical Collections Dispersed http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=815

EPA Library System Continues to Implode Union Charges EPA with Unfair Labor Practice for Refusing to Consult on Closures http://freegovinfo.info/node/928

Why are EPA Libraries Closing? By Christopher Moraff, In These Times http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3018/why_are_epa_libraries_closing/

EPA Libraries: Where Do They Stand Now? by Barbie E. Keiser Posted On February 12, 2007 http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbReader.asp?ArticleId=19226