EPA Libraries Set To Reopen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it will reestablish five closed libraries: on-site libraries in Region 5 in Chicago, Region 6 in Dallas, Region 7 in Kansas City, MO, and the newly consolidated EPA Headquarters Repository Library and Chemical Library in Washington, DC. The deadline for reopening is September 30. The EPA news came in a report to Congress requested as part of the Congressional appropriations process, which provided an additional $1 million to the agency. EPA also said in a statement the funds would help its regional libraries “update their collections, facilities, and equipment” and “conduct a formal needs assessment for EPA library services to support future development.”

However, given that two of the regional libraries, in EPA's language, “will maintain core reference materials and additional library resources to meet specific local needs,” Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) associate director Carol Goldberg warned that “EPA is approaching the task of restoring its libraries grudgingly and appears to be trying to get by doing the bare minimum.” She added that some of the libraries lack a place to operate, as their prior locations were leased out or converted to cubicles.