EPA National Library Network News - Archive
EPA named Federal Library/Information Center of the Year – May 2011
The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC), headquartered at the Library of Congress, recognizes and commends outstanding, innovative and sustained achievements through its award program. As this year's recipient in the large library/information center category, the EPA National Library Network demonstrated critical mission support, service innovation, and exceptional customer service. The award is highly regarded within the federal library community and is based on selection criteria evaluated by a FLICC Awards Working Group and the FLICC Executive Board. Malcolm, D. Jackson, Chief Information Officer and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information, and Deborah Balsamo, National Program Manager, accepted the award in person at the annual FLICC Forum, May 17, 2011.
Strategic Planning Progress - April 2011
Work on the Library Network's strategic plan reached a significant milestone in March 2011 when EPA Librarians gathered in Washington, DC to review and provide input on the first draft. Beginning in December 2010, the Library Network convened a strategic planning workgroup of EPA Librarians representing regional, repository and research libraries, as well as Network coordination. Together, they developed goals and objectives for the plan based on several drivers:
- Gaps identified in the 2009 Library Needs Assessment
- Concerns raised by the U.S. Government Accountability Office
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats identified by the EPA Library community
The workgroup's efforts culminated in a draft strategic plan that EPA Librarians discussed extensively during their Annual Meeting, March 15-17, 2011. Once the draft plan has cleared EPA management review the Library Network will share it with external stakeholders. The target date for final publication is late June 2011.
New Procedures for EPA Libraries Finalized - April 2011
Six new procedures for the EPA National Library Network went into effect on March 4, 2011, along with updates to the existing library policy and procedures. These procedures provide guidance for the day-to-day operation of EPA Libraries, including:
- Cataloging
- Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery
- Collection Development and Management
- Public Access
- Disaster Response and Continuity of Operations (COOP)
- Network Communication Strategies
Network Librarians developed the procedures collaboratively and submitted them for an extensive internal review. Together with existing procedures for areas such as library materials dispersal and digitization, these newly finalized procedures will ensure that EPA Libraries follow best practices for managing their services and collections.
EPA Libraries Prepare for 40th Anniversary – September 2010
Beginning October 1, 2010, Fiscal Year 2011 will usher in the 40th anniversary of the EPA National Library Network. Among other anniversary activities, EPA Library staff and federal library managers will convene in the Washington, DC metro area, March 15-17, 2011. This Annual Meeting of the EPA National Library Network will provide opportunities to reflect on EPA Library history while focusing on strategic planning. The Library Network welcomes input for its long-term planning.
Summer Conference Outreach - August 2010
The EPA National Library Network exhibited at a public symposium and several library association conferences this summer, including:
- EPA's Environmental Information Symposium, May 10-13, 2010 in Philadelphia
- Special Libraries Association (SLA) INFO-EXPO, June 13-16, 2010 in New Orleans
- American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference Exhibits, June 24-29, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
- American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Exhibit Hall, July 11-13, 2010 in Denver
EPA's information booth enables the Library Network to reach out to the thousands of professional librarians and library community affiliates who shape its stakeholder community. As part of its outreach, the Library Network also tweeted for the first time this summer using the @EPALive Twitter account and the #epalibraries hashtag. Librarians from five EPA locations staffed the information booth and demonstrated EPA’s freely-available information resources.
EPA Updates Environmental Reference Bibliography - July 2010
An updated 2010 edition of EPA's Core List for an Environmental Reference Collection is available through the Agency's digital publications archive. The purpose of the Core List is to identify key information resources in the areas of environmental protection, management and science. The Core List was developed by EPA’s National Library Network for EPA information professionals, state environmental librarians, environmental libraries in other countries, and other individuals involved in developing or managing collections of environmental information resources. The EPA National Library Network plans to update the Core List periodically, expanding it to include new information sources.
Library Needs Assessment Findings - July 2010
The EPA National Library Network contracted with Outsell, Inc., an independent information industry consultant, to conduct an agency-wide information needs assessment in 2009. Key findings from the final report include:
- EPA Libraries save time and provide easy access to services.
- Users would like access to additional library training.
- EPA publications/reports are the most frequently used information type.
- Users need access to a broader selection of electronic journals.
- EPA Libraries should increase marketing efforts to raise awareness of library services.
To read the full report, executive summary and key findings, visit the needs assessment page. The Library Network will use the needs assessment report to guide the future direction of EPA’s Library services.
Annual Meeting of the EPA National Library Network - December 2009
Library staff and managers from 22 EPA Libraries discussed issues related to the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of EPA Libraries at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Through sessions and workgroups, EPA Librarians worked to:
- Develop strategies to address the recommendations of the needs assessment
- Prepare for the next phase of digitization of library materials
- Improve services to EPA employees and the public
The Annual Meeting was held October 27 and 28 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
EPA Exhibits at National Library Conferences - July 2009
EPA returned as an exhibitor to three professional library association conferences this summer. The EPA National Library Network information booth traveled to the following conferences:
- Special Libraries Association (SLA) INFO-EXPO, June 14-17, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
- American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference Exhibits, July 11-14, 2009 in Chicago
- American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Exhibit Hall, July 26-28, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
As an exhibitor, EPA reached out to the thousands of professional librarians and library community affiliates who shape its stakeholder community. EPA Librarians staffed the information booth and answered questions about free information resources available from EPA, the current status of EPA Libraries and the future directions for the Library Network.
Policy and Procedures for EPA Libraries Finalized – July 2009
A policy and six accompanying procedures for the EPA National Library Network went into effect in May 2009. The policy (CIO 2170.1 [superseded by CIO Policy 2170.2]) establishes uniform governance and management for the EPA National Library Network and the procedures provide guidance for the day-to-day operation of EPA Libraries, including:
- Materials dispersal
- Reference and research services
- Repository library management
- Usage Statistics
- Digitization processes for EPA Libraries
- Library facility management
Following the finalization of the library policy and procedures, the moratorium on changes to library services, including the movement of library materials, was lifted in June 2009. EPA Libraries are resuming normal collection management operations and planning for the Agency’s future digitization efforts is underway.
Network librarians worked collaboratively to develop the procedures, which will ensure that EPA Libraries follow best practices for managing their services and collections. The policy and procedures underwent an extensive internal review and were shared with external stakeholders. Procedures for other library service areas are in development and will provide additional guidance to EPA Libraries when finalized.
EPA Library Statistics Highlight Services - April 2009
EPA National Library Network first quarter Fiscal Year 2009 data is now available, reflecting usage of EPA’s enhanced library services by EPA staff and the public. Network libraries actively collect and report usage statistics according to Network baseline standards. The Network’s first quarter report for October, November, and December of 2008 shows that both EPA staff and the public utilize core service areas of reference/research services and interlibrary loan/document delivery. The report also highlights various methods by which EPA Library patrons request services and includes data on walk-in traffic. EPA is committed to gathering both quantitative and qualitative data to help inform the future of its library services.
EPA Enhances Library Services - September 2008
EPA is enhancing its comprehensive suite of library and information access services available to the public and Agency staff. Services are provided through EPA’s National Library Network and online resources. Many locations are expanding service hours and adding to their local collections.
Onsite libraries for the public and Agency staff are open in Region 5, Chicago; Region 6, Dallas; Region 7, Kansas City; and at the EPA Headquarters and Chemical Libraries in Washington, DC. In addition, EPA is providing onsite staff at the Fort Meade, MD satellite library in Region 3. These libraries join the EPA National Library Network which consists of regional, laboratory, repository and specialized Llbraries. The libraries provide physical space for walk-in traffic and maintain onsite collections of materials developed and tailored to meet local and regional needs.
All libraries are staffed by professional librarians who provide services to EPA staff and the public via phone, e-mail or in person. Each of the libraries in EPA’s National Library Network provides a consistent set of core services: onsite reference and research services; a minimum of 24 hours of staff support services a week; and a standard reference collection. Additional services and hours of operation are provided by some of the Network Libraries.
EPA is committed to supporting an effective physical and virtual library network that provides timely information access and library services. EPA’s Library services and local collections are supported and supplemented by an array of electronic resources, including access to hundreds of journals, databases and news sources for EPA employees.
Information about library locations and available library services.
EPA Presence at National Library Conferences - June 2008
EPA's National Library Network is represented at two professional library association conferences this summer through its participation as an exhibitor. EPA will have an information booth at the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Annual Conference INFO-EXPO, June 15-18, 2008 in Seattle, as well as the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference Exhibition, June 26-July 2, 2008 in Anaheim. The two conferences attract thousands of professional librarians and library community affiliates each year and will allow EPA to update stakeholders on its future direction for the Library Network. EPA has developed a Highlights from the EPA National Library Network, EPA Publication Number 260-F-08-002 resource for the two library conference venues. Information about EPA Library services, publications, and online resources will also be featured.
Update on EPA's Library Network - March 2008
EPA submitted a National Library Network Report to Congress on March 26 as requested in the Explanatory Statement accompanying the FY 2008 consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764).
In the Report, EPA commits to reestablish physical libraries in EPA Regions 5, 6 and 7, as well as the Headquarters and Chemical Libraries by September 30, 2008 to complement existing library services. The report was transmitted to the Honorable Todd Tiahrt, the Honorable Wayne Allard, the Honorable Norman Dicks and the Honorable Dianne Feinstein.
The Report lays out the general approach EPA plans to take for each location to reopen, and establishes operational standards applicable to every library in the EPA Network. More specific planning for each site continues.
EPA will allocate the Congressional appropriation of $1 million using the following priorities:
- Re-establish onsite libraries in Region 5 in Chicago, Region 6 in Dallas, Region 7 in Kansas City and the consolidated EPA Headquarters Repository and Chemical Library in Washington, DC.
- Enable Regional EPA Libraries to update their collections, facilities and equipment to meet Network standards.
- Conduct a formal needs assessment for EPA Library services to support future development.
Over the next few months, EPA will continue to engage with internal and external stakeholders on developing final plans for each library. The Agency is committed to working with its employees and outside parties on its future digitization plans (based on the third party review), a customer needs assessment, and long term strategic planning efforts.
Annual Meeting of the EPA National Library Network and OEI Symposium – December 2007
The EPA National Library Network held its 2007 Annual Meeting in conjunction with the EPA Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri. The mid-November meeting brought library staff and managers together in person, with close to 60 participants representing 19 of the EPA locations and their libraries. A range of sessions fostered discussion of issues related to the day-to-day operation of EPA Libraries as well as the strategic direction of the Library Network. Guest speakers offered additional perspectives on environmental information access and the role of EPA Libraries and information professionals. Molly O’Neill, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer, discussed her vision for integrated access to agency-wide information. Roberta Shaffer, Executive Director of the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) and Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK), spoke to trends in federal libraries and highlighted the trailblazing efforts of the EPA National Library Network in addressing challenges that cut across many library systems. Fred Stoss, Associate librarian for Biological and Environmental Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo, also shared perspectives on access to environmental information and the importance of making library services available to a range of users.
The November 14-16 OEI Symposium: “Getting it Right: Access to Environmental Information,” continued this information access conversation for the EPA Library community along with hundreds of other participants from EPA and beyond. Plenary sessions, small-group forums, booth displays and a “mash-up camp” comprised the core symposium offerings, all of which explored growing possibilities for collecting and delivering the right information to the right people at the right time.
Highlighting Professional Librarian Staff Changes – December 2007
In the course of this year, the management and operation of EPA’s National Library Network has been strengthened with the addition of several highly qualified professional librarians. Some of the notable staff enhancements include:
Deborah K. Balsamo was named as the National Program Manager for EPA’s Library Network. Ms. Balsamo joins EPA’s Office of Environmental Information from the Office of Administration and Resources Management where she served as the Federal Library Manager of the Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina Library for four years. Prior to that, Ms. Balsamo was the Director of the RTP Library in a contractor support role and is a former Librarian at Duke University's Office of Research Support.
A professional librarian for over ten years, Ms. Balsamo currently serves as the president of the North Carolina chapter of the Special Library Association and is also active in the American Library Association; she has received awards from both these organizations. Ms. Balsamo earned her Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) from the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she also served as adjunct lecturer for the science reference course. An Honors Graduate of Florida Atlantic University, she was named University Scholar and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Ms. Balsamo is leading the Agency’s library services program. The EPA Library Network is composed of libraries and repositories located in the Agency's Headquarters, Regional and Field Offices, Research Centers and specialized laboratories, as well as web-based access to electronic holdings. EPA is leveraging information technology to provide more effective information access to the public and its employees by making more information available on-line.
April Errickson was selected as the federal library Manager for EPA’s Library in Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC operated by the Office of Administration and Resources Management. For almost four years, Ms. Errickson has managed the EPA-RTP Library as a University of North Carolina contractor where she was involved with implementing library liaison services for EPA Headquarters, Region 6 and Region 7 employees, as well as coordinating the 2007 journals procurement through RTP. Prior to joining EPA, Ms. Errickson was employed at Thomson-Dialog for almost five years in a variety of roles, including Director of the Knowledge Center, Dialog's customer support department which provides technical and reference support to librarians and information specialists. Ms. Errickson holds a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Heather Wright is serving as the federal library manager in Cincinnati's Office of Administration and Resources Management, Information Resources Management Division. Previously, she was the supervisory librarian in EPA’s Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center Library (AWBERC) in Cincinnati as a contractor with ASRC Management Services. She also worked as AWBERC's reference librarian for two years. As the supervisory librarian, Ms. Wright worked to assist Regions 4 and 5 with new library service models, providing liaison library services. Before coming to EPA, she worked as a law librarian at a large legal firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Wright holds a Master's Degree in Library Science from Indiana University and an MA in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Kansas. Ms. Wright is also a book reviewer for Library Journal.
Tamika Barnes McCollough serves as the EPA-RTP Library Director as a University of North Carolina contractor. Prior to becoming the EPA Library Director, Ms. McCollough was the Head of Reference and Information Literacy at North Carolina A&T State in Greensboro, North Carolina where she was responsible for supervision and development of six librarians, coordinating the instruction program and managing the reference collection. Before working at North Carolina A&T State University, Ms. McCollough was the Engineering Services Librarian at North Carolina State University.
Ms. McCollough is active in the library profession and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) and the North Carolina Chapter of SLA. She is also a member of the ACRL Professional Development Coordinating Committee. Ms. McCollough has been very involved with ALA’s Spectrum Program which is an effort to increase the number of minority librarians in the profession and the Secretary/Treasurer for NCLA’s Roundtable of Ethnic and Minority Concerns.
Tamika Barnes McCollough is currently an adjunct lecturer at both North Carolina Central University School of Library and Information Sciences and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science. Her undergraduate degree is a B.A. in Biology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and she received her MLS from North Carolina Central University.
EPA Collaboration with Federal Library and Information Center Committee - August 2007
The Office of Environmental Information is collaborating with the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) regarding EPA's National Library Network. FLICC is a component of the Library of Congress and will convene a Board of Advisors to provide input to EPA as it develops its strategy for the future delivery of library and information access services. As part of its portfolio of programs and services, FLICC provides advice to federal libraries and information centers in all branches of government including the military; its mission is to foster excellence in federal library and information services through interagency cooperation.
The FLICC Board of Advisors will work with EPA staff to help address challenges and share collective expertise and experience. The Board's membership was selected to consider a broad range of topics relevant to EPA's National Library Network planning. EPA is pleased to work with this distinguished Board of Advisors:
- Janice Beattie, Director of Central and Regional Libraries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
- Blane Dessy, Director of Staff, Patrick Henry Library, Department of Justice
- Richard Huffine, National Library Coordinator, US Geological Survey
- James King, Director, Ruth H. Hooker Research Library, US Naval Research Laboratory
- Maria Pisa, Associate Director for Public Services, National Agriculture Library, US Department of Agriculture
- Roberta Shaffer, FLICC/FEDLINK Executive Director, Library of Congress
- Amanda Wilson, Head of the National Transportation Library, Department of Transportation
Update on EPA’s Library Network - July 2007
EPA is committed to increasing access to environmental information through a combination of online and traditional library services via the EPA Library Network. As EPA plans for the future direction of the Library Network, updates will be provided to library users and stakeholders with information on the planning activities and ways to be involved in the process.
No changes are being made while EPA is reviewing its plans.
EPA is in the process of reviewing its methods of delivering library services. No changes are being made in the Library Network at this time; no changes will be made until EPA's plans have been widely reviewed and communicated. EPA is implementing a strategy to involve a broader group of internal and external stakeholders in the Library Network planning process.
An Interim Library Policy was issued and procedures are being developed.
EPA's Chief Information Officer issued an Interim Library Policy [superseded by CIO Policy 2170.2] on April 16, 2007 that clarifies the governance process and responsibilities for the Library Network. The library policy process follows the Agency's policy framework: procedures in support of the Policy are being developed with stakeholder input.
Procedures for the transfer of library materials to other libraries are in draft and are under internal review; these procedures were developed by professional EPA Librarians based on best library practices. Draft procedures for collecting library usage statistics are also in review. Additional procedures will be developed in the course of the coming months and will go through similar development and review processes, including input from experts outside of EPA when appropriate. Document digitization procedures are being developed. EPA has commissioned an independent third party review of its Digitization standards and processes; this review will inform the development of EPA's future Digitization procedures.
Stakeholder input and communication efforts ;have been expanded.
EPA is working with internal and external stakeholders as it develops plans for the Library Network. A meeting of EPA's federal Library managers was held in Chapel Hill, NC on April 10-11, 2007, and additional meetings are planned. EPA has participated in several national library conferences over the past few months to engage in information exchange. Other opportunities for stakeholder input are being explored and forums for stakeholder input are being planned. EPA's web presence for the Library Network has been updated to reflect current information and activities.