The Environmental Protection Agency Epa Library Closures

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) library closures: better access for a broader audience?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) library closures : better access for a broader audience? : hearing before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, March 13, 2008.

Established in 1971, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) library network provides staff and the public with access to environmental information. Its 26 libraries contain a wide range of information and resources and are located at headquarters, regional offices, research centers, and laboratories nationwide. In 2006, EPA issued a plan to reorganize the network beginning in fiscal year 2007. The plan proposed closing libraries and dispersing, disposing of, and digitizing library materials. GAO was asked to assess (1) the status of, and plans for, the network reorganization; (2) EPA's rationale for reorganizing the network; (3) the extent to which EPA has communicated with and solicited the views of EPA staff and external stakeholders in conducting the reorganization; (4) EPA's steps to maintain the quality of library services after the reorganization; and (5) how EPA is funding the network and its reorganization. For this study, GAO reviewed pertinent EPA documents and interviewed EPA officials and staff from each of the libraries.

Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) library network provides staff and the public with access to environmental information. Its 26 libraries contain a wide range of information and resources and are located at headquarters, regional offices, research centres, and laboratories nation-wide. In 2006, EPA issued a plan to reorganise the network beginning in fiscal year 2007. The plan proposed closing libraries and dispersing, disposing of, and digitising library materials. GAO was asked to assess (1) the status of, and plans for, the network reorganisation; (2) EPA's rationale for reorganising the network; (3) the extent to which EPA has communicated with and solicited the views of EPA staff and external stakeholders in, conducting the reorganisation; (4) EPA's steps to maintain the quality of library services after the reorganisation; and (5) how EPA is funding the network and its reorganisation. For this study, GAO reviewed pertinent EPA documents and interviewed EPA officials and staff from each of the libraries.

Near the end of the 109th Congress, some Members raised questions about the closing of several libraries administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing concerns about the continued availability of the agency's collections. Library professional association and public interest groups raised similar questions about access to this information. EPA reported that the closings were part of its efforts to restructure its libraries in response to the agency's transition from walk-in services to electronic dissemination of information, as a result of the increasing use of the Internet to access its collections. In response to the concerns about the library closings, EPA announced a temporary moratorium in January 2007, prohibiting further changes to its library services while the agency continued digitizing its collections. Interest in the library closings has continued into the 110th Congress. Although Members and Committees of Congress have addressed the closings in letters to EPA and in hearings, Congress has not addressed the matter so far in appropriations bills or other legislation. This report summarizes EPA's plan to restructure its libraries, examines relevant issues, and discusses congressional action in response to the agency's plan.

The closing of several libraries administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised numerous issues. The President's FY2007 budget included a $2.5 million reduction for EPA's libraries, $2.0 million of which was attributed mainly to these closures. EPA reports that the closings are part of its efforts to restructure its libraries to respond to the increasing use of the Internet to access its collections. Although EPA plans to digitize certain materials, some items may be archived or discarded. Members of Congress, library professional associations, and public interest groups have questioned the continued availability of EPA's collections as the agency restructures its libraries. The closing of EPA's libraries received increasing attention toward the end of the 109th Congress, including a request for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the agency's library restructuring plan. However, the funding and operation of the libraries were not mentioned in the FY2007 appropriations bill that would have funded EPA (H.R. 5386). This report examines EPA's plan to restructure its libraries and discusses relevant issues.

The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) library network provides agency staff and the public with access to environmental information. A 2006 attempt by EPA to reorganize its network by consolidating libraries and making more materials and services available online caused concern among users, and in 2007, EPA put a moratorium on its reorganization plans. Congress requested that GAO report on the reorganization and has again requested a follow-up on these issues.Accordingly, GAO reviewed (1) the status of EPAs overall strategy for its library network, (2) the status of EPAs plan to reopen the libraries it closed and other actions planned or taken, (3) EPAs efforts to digitize printed documents to make them electronically available, and (4) EPAs efforts to communicate with staff and other stakeholders about its library network. GAO reviewed regulations and agency funding and inventory documents and interviewed EPA staff and contractors, as well as independent library professionals. GAO also assessed the reliability of EPAs data on library holdings and from EPAs staff survey on library use and needs.