As many of you know, FGI has been tracking this issue of library closings at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I wish I had good news to report (Like EPA budget reinstatement!), but unfortunately not. Today, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) had a news release stating that, due to EPA budget shortfalls, the EPA is, “sharply reducing the number of technical journals and environmental publications to which its employees will have online access.” This after an all EPA employee email memo from CIO Linda A. Travers (PDF) touted:
Linda A. Travers
Acting Assistant Administrator and Chief
Information Officer
TO: All Headquarters EmployeesEPA is in the process of implementing a new library plan to
make environmental information more accessible to employees, researchers and the general public. As part of our efforts, the Agency is posting physical library collections on-line and enhancing electronic library services. At present, more than 15,000 journals and publications are available on-line and Agency documents can be obtained via interlibrary loans.
How does closing EPA libraries and sharply reducing access to scientific journals make information *more* accessible?! Perhaps if the EPA became a faith-based organization, they’d get their funding back. *sigh*
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