GAO Slams EPA Library Closures as Unjustified

[Guest guest]

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. "