Federal library closings anger scientists: Administration has no commitment to access to information

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Closure of 6 federal libraries angers scientists
Cost-cutting moves at the EPA and elsewhere deny researchers and the public access to vital data, critics say.
By Tim Reiterman, Times Staff Writer
December 8, 2006

....Across the country, half a dozen federal libraries are closed or closing. Others have reduced staffing, hours of operation, public access or subscriptions.

In Washington, books are boxed at an Environmental Protection Agency library that helped toxicologists assess health effects of pesticides and chemicals. The General Services Administration headquarters library where patrons conducted research on real estate, telecommunications and government finance was shuttered this year, as was the Department of Energy headquarters library that collected literature for government scientists and contractors.

Officials say the cutbacks have been driven by tight budgets, declining patronage and rising demand for online services. And they say leaner operations will improve efficiency while maintaining essential functions. "We are trying to improve access and … do more with a little less money," said Linda Travers, acting assistant administrator for the EPA's office of environmental information.

Although hundreds of federal libraries remain open, critics say the downsizing, especially at the EPA, demonstrates the Bush administration's indifference to transparent government and to scientific solutions to many pressing problems.

"Crucial information generated with taxpayer dollars is now not available to the public and the scientists who need it," said Emily Sheketoff, head of the American Library Assn.'s Washington office. "This is the beginning of the elimination of all these government libraries. I think you have an administration that does not have a commitment to access to information."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-libraries8dec08,0,474100.story?track=mostemailedlink

[Redstone]

1. I heard about this before. I have to use the word DISGRACEFUL again. What the HELL

is going on down there in Washington?

Redstone

[nam78_two]

Par for the course for these people though

Doesn't surprise me ONE bit :grr:

[nam78_two]

2. K&R.nt

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Most Everything is on the 'Net Now

Seriously, I used to spend enormous amount of time at libraries - including federal libraries. Never need to go anymore.

[SharonAnn]

6. "Everything" is not on the Internet. Especially research info and journals.

They require subscriptions and are individually very expenseive. That was part of the reason for having them available through a library.

We just went through a legal challenge to a local company on environmental issues. Much of the information we researched was not available on the Internet and never would be. But it was available in the federal EPA libraries.

[Fridays Child]

4. No commitment to access to information? That's just about as ridiculous...

...a euphemism as is "food insecurity" or Condi Rice's new one, "freedom deficit."

It would be far more accurate to say that Bush actually has a commitment to blocking access to information.

[babylonsister]

5. Paper trail anyone? This is wrong and worrisome. Computers can

be scrubbed, so it doesn't matter if this info is on the net because it could be gone tomorrow. What happens if that happens and we have no 'paper trail'?