GAO Slams EPA Library Closures as Unjustified
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 3/14/2008
- 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."
