Monthly Archives: December 2007

Congress Directs EPA to Re-open Its Libraries

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For Immediate Release: December 21, 2007
Contact: Carol Goldberg (202) 265-7337
http://www.peer.org/news/newsid.php?rowid=964

Washington, DC Buried within the omnibus appropriations bill Congress sent this week to President Bush is a Christmas present for the beleaguered library network of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Congress ordered EPA to restore library services across the country and earmarked $3 million for that purpose, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

Beginning in early 2006, without public announcement or congressional approval, EPA began dismantling its network of technical and research libraries. Altogether EPA has closed regional libraries serving 23 states and its headquarters library in Washington, D.C. It has also reduced services and hours in libraries covering another 14 states. In addition, EPA has shuttered several of its specialized, technical libraries, such as its unique library dedicated to the effects of pesticides and new chemicals.

“The report language attached to the omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of the 2008 fiscal year directs EPA to use $3 million to restore the network of EPA libraries recently closed or consolidated by the Administration and to report within 90 days on its plans to restore publicly available libraries to provide environmental information and data to each EPA region.

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National Pesticide Information Center

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National Pesticide Information Center

‘The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) was created through a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its primary function is to provide “objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions about pesticides and their use.” The site contains seven primary sections, including “General Information”, “Technical Information”, “Pest Control”, and “Emergency”. Most casual visitors to the site should click on over to the “General Information” area. In this section, they will find fact sheets and posters on pesticide safety, storage and disposal, and case studies. Of course, they shouldn’t forget about the other areas of the site, particularly if they are interested in regulatory issues involving pesticides and emergency resources. Finally, the site also contains a search engine for those who know exactly what they need to find. [KMG]’

Source: The Scout Report for Dec. 14, 2007, from Univ. of Wisconsin.

This NPIC site does contain a disclaimer for the Case Profiles. This information is provided as a public service and for educational purposes.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is meeting in Bali

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The countries (192) that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) an international treaty, are meeting again to update the Kyoto Protocols which are due to expire in 2012. The Union of Concerned Scientists has begun a newsletter, the Bali Bulletin to report information about this meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

Here is some background and further links.

Improvements to the Princeton University Library catalog

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There has been further developments — improvements — in the utility of our Main Catalog: Finding the location of a specific book, and finding related material.
Look up a title in the catalog, and you will note, toward the bottom of the record:

1a. Item details: Where to find this item This link gives you a picture of the library building and a map to help you locate the site on campus.

1b. Location details: More information about this location This link gives you specifics of the whereabouts of the particular copy you are seeking. For Firestone books, a picture of Firestone shows while the floor plan loads. Then, from the central elevators & stairs, “anttracks” may take you to the approximate location of the book. In addition, locations may be highlighted and annotated.

2. Notice that there is an additional button just at the top of the record reading: more like this.

This terminology may be more familiar from other database searching, but here it mainly condenses the key links from the long view.

Renewable Energy — website & business note

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RenewableEnergyAccess.com is “a leading online-only publication and business-to-business (B2B) community for renewable energy”. Even though, PennWell Corporation, a business-to-business (B2B) publishing corporation, has become the major owner of the website, its founders, Jim Callahan and Oliver Strube will continue to direct operations.

“RenewableEnergyAccess.com serves 50,000 registered readers by providing comprehensive industry information and insight with its daily news, weekly podcasts, and regular columns and interviews. The site covers finance, policy, and technology for renewable energies including solar power, wind power, biomass and biofuels, geothermal, hydrogen/fuel cells, and hydropower.”

Princeton University has most of the journals listed in the extended entry. However, as always, if anyone needs an article we don’t own, Interlibrary Loan or Document Delivery is encouraged.

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