« SPH Professor Arnold Monto on NPR | Main | Articles By Upcoming Speakers »
February 14, 2007
EPA Library Closures and Effects on Public Health
Proposed 2007 EPA budget cuts have resulted in the closure of and restricted access to EPA libraries across the country. These libraries are crucial sources of information for researchers, professionals, and the general public on issues related to pollution, the environment, and public health. The issue has been developing since last year and is continuing to draw challenges and debate from stakeholders.
One of the justifications given has been that the closures will be offset by access to digitized versions of documents online, but as the article below details, this will apply only to documents authored by EPA staff members, as copyright laws prevent much of the libraries' content from being put online:
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2007/jan/policy/jp_epa_libraries.html
This case draws attention to the larger current issue in libraries to try strike the correct balance between digital and print content. On the surface, all-digital access seems preferable for convenience, wider access, and reduced costs, but the issue is more complicated than it may seem. In the case of the EPA libraries, the move toward digital content in order to reduce overhead costs could result in important information becoming largely unavailable or even completely lost.
Listed below are several links to further information:
American Library Association Web page with background information, latest news, and links to articles:
http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/governmentinfo/epalibraries/epalibraries.htm
Letters to the Senate and House of Representatives from the Medical Library Association and the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries regarding the closures:
http://www.mlanet.org/government/info_access/index.html?focus_20070208
Transcript of recent Senate Hearings on the issue:
Posted by ponderj at February 14, 2007 01:54 PM