Future Direction of the EPA Library Network

News about EPA Libraries
and Repositories:

EPA National Library Network Update
- Report to Congress
- Digitization Review
EPA and Federal Library Information Center Committee (FLICC) Collaboration

Tell Us What You Think:

EPA is seeking input on plans for the future direction of the Library Network and will use the information provided to help develop the strategic plan for library services. EPA is committed to supporting an effective physical and virtual library network that provides timely information access and library services.

Provide feedback on EPA’s current library services or give input for longer term plans. More information on EPA’s library services.

The mission of EPA's libraries is to improve access to information for EPA decision making and environmental awareness.

EPA’s Vision for Library Services

EPA’s vision is to be the premier environmental library network providing timely access to information and library services to its employees and the public. EPA’s approach to achieving this vision involves maintaining a strong network of physical libraries enhanced with online tools to expand access to environmental information. This enhanced model provides more library materials electronically and on the EPA Web site with increased accessibility to environmental information and increased efficiency by which employees and the public can find the materials they need.

Next Steps

By September 30, 2008, EPA plans to re-establish physical libraries in EPA regional offices in Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City, as well as the EPA Headquarters and Chemical Library in Washington, DC. The March 26, 2008, EPA National Library Network Report to Congress (PDF) (8 pp, 52K, About PDF) lays out the general approach EPA plans to take for each location to reopen. More specific planning for each site continues.

Planning for the Future

In addition to plans for reopening EPA libraries, the March 2008 Report to Congress (PDF) (8 pp, 52K, About PDF) sets out operational standards for all Network libraries. The EPA National Library Network is working to finalize a policy and twelve procedures to provide further operational guidance for its libraries. In the interim, no changes are being made in the Library Network. EPA’s future strategic plans will build from the first draft of a strategic plan annotated outline (PDF) (12 pp, 96K, About PDF), which was shared in Fall of 2007 with EPA's library stakeholder community. This plan followed EPA’s October 2006 transition to the National Framework for the Headquarters and Regional Libraries (PDF) (18 pp, 92K, About PDF). EPA is committed to supporting an effective physical and virtual library network that provides timely information access and library services as it plans for the future.

Engaging with Stakeholders

EPA continues to develop its strategic plan for the future of the EPA National Library Network in concert with internal and external stakeholders. These include a board of advisors from the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) of the Library of Congress, professional library associations, the scientific community, academia, and the public. EPA’s National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information will solicit public response to a set of discussion topics through June 2008. Information gathered from the National Dialogue will help EPA make changes to the way it provides environmental information, including library services. Plans for a needs assessment of EPA library services and the ongoing review of EPA’s digitization procedures represent two strategic planning elements that have emerged from stakeholder discussion and input.

Stakeholder Input

You can provide feedback on EPA’s current library services or input for longer term plans using the Feedback Form, or by sending an e-mail to library.feedback@epa.gov. For more information on EPA’s library services, visit http://www.epa.gov/libraries/.