Special Libraries Association Lauds
Government Accountability Office
Report on EPA Library Closures

GAO Findings Echo SLA Concerns about Lack of User Input, Inadequate Document Digitization Strategy and Compromised Accessibility to Public Health Information

Alexandria, Virginia, 18 March 2008 -- The Special Libraries Association (SLA) today applauded the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recent report on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) library closures. The report issued 13 March was requested by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in February 2007 following an outcry by the public and the library community at the destruction of environmentally sensitive documents and restriction of access to important public health information contained in the EPA libraries.

"SLA was the first library association to denounce the closures in February 2006, and we have continued to work diligently to ensure that the concerns of our members and the public's best interest are considered and appropriately addressed in the EPA's strategy and operations plans going forward," said SLA Chief Executive Officer Janice R. Lachance. "This report echoes what we have been saying all along, and brings to light the inherent flaws in the EPA's information strategy. We believe that this is another step along the right path, and we look forward to continuing our open dialog with EPA on recommended next steps as they move in a better direction to improve, rather than hinder, the ability of scientists and the public to gain access to vital environmental information and data."

At the request of the GAO, SLA staff participated in the investigation to voice the concerns of the specialized librarian community. The GAO reports that the EPA did not adequately consult agency staff, outside experts or stakeholders before undertaking the reorganization, and failed to take into account the needs of the public to have access to the materials.

According to an article in The Washington Post on 14 March, U.S. Representative Bart Gordon, chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, issued a statement which said the GAO report reveals a "grim picture" of mismanagement at the EPA. And that the EPA strategy was "characterized by poor planning, failure to communicate with its employees, the public or Congress and failure to protect unique government assets." Gordon continued, "As a result, EPA library services are impaired, employees will have a harder time doing their jobs and the public has lost access to government information."

The approved FY08 EPA budget allocates $1 million to restore EPA's network of libraries. In communications with EPA staff, SLA has received clarification that this $1 million is additional money, above the budget requested by the EPA, and is specifically to restore the network of regional EPA libraries which were recently closed or consolidated by the Administration.

Background and Reports
Environmental Protection: EPA Needs to Ensure That Best Practices and Procedures Are Followed When Making Further Changes to Its Library Network, February 2008, 60 pages.

A history and timeline of SLA's involvement in this issue is available: http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/advocacy/EPA/epaupdate.cfm.

About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,500 members in more than 60 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org.