The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) linkurl:closure;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/27334/ of several of its research libraries is flawed, unjustified and is depriving academics, government employees, and the public of crucial environmental data, according to a Congressional report released yesterday (Mar. 13). Of the EPA's 26 libraries, six libraries have changed their hours of operation, and four others have been shut since 2006. These include its Office of Environmental Information headquarters library and the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Chemical library, both in Washington, DC. The linkurl:report,;http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08304.pdf issued by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), calls EPA's attempt at cost-saving through reorganizing its library system disorganized and poorly implemented. "EPA's library plan describes the reorganization effort as a 'phased approach,'" the report reads, "but it does not provide specific goals, timelines, or feedback mechanisms that allow the agency to measure performance and monitor user needs to ensure a successful reorganization while maintaining quality services."...
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