Re: GAO Slams EPA Library Closures as Unjustified

[Guest guest]

Anxiety attacks? Kinda makes me wonder if the GAO isn't working out

of a " sick building " . Maybe they're Depressed! They do seem a bit

Irritable. After all, isn't everyone experiencing cutbacks? OR...it

might be that the EPA's Libraries have Air Quality Issues? Just as

other Libraries have been experiencing... Just a Quirky thought from

out of my MOLDY Brain.

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> GAO Slams EPA Library Closures as Unjustified

> Library Journal - New York,NY*

> Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 3/14/2008

>

> http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6540782.html?desc=topstory

>

> Not enough public input

> No analysis of cost savings

> Improper disposal of federal property

>

> A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued

> yesterday slams the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

> plan to close regional and research libraries around the country,

> calling the decision not justified and the process deeply

> flawed. " GAO's report paints a grim picture of the current state of

> EPA's library system, " said Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). " The Agency's

> modernization effort is characterized by poor planning, failure to

> communicate with its employees, the public or Congress and failure

> to protect unique government assets. "

>

> Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and

> Government Reform, said that GAO's report " makes it clear that EPA

> rushed to close libraries with little notice or input and

> disregarded concerns raised by EPA employees and in an EPA report. "

>

> Two years ago, the agency, anticipating a $2 million budget cut and

> noting a move to online resources, began the process of closing

four

> regional libraries, as well as reducing hours or service at five of

> 26 libraries, all used by agency staffers, state agencies, and

> members of the public. Also, EPA closed its Chemical Library in

> Washington, DC. Noting that the budget cut was proposed but not yet

> implemented, GAO said EPA acted without " determining whether

> potential cost savings were available " and without " performing the

> steps that its own study specified as necessary to ensure that the

> reorganization would be cost-effective. "

>

> The report also claims the agency did not comply with federal law

> concerning the disposal of federal property, nor did it communicate

> its strategy across the agency. GAO found that the agency was only

> planning to make about ten percent of its library holdings

available

> online and was stymied by copyright in digitizing its holdings,

> limited to unique reports produced by EPA

>

> GAO recommended that the Administrator of EPA maintain a moratorium

> on changes to the library network until the agency incorporates and

> makes public a plan that includes a strategy to justify its

> reorganization plans; new outreach efforts; appropriate monitoring

> of changes; and a process to ensure proper dispersal and disposal

of

> library materials. GAO said that EPA, provided with a draft of the

> report for review and comment, " agreed with our recommendations. "

>