EPA Provides SLA with Response to PEER News Release on Chemical Library

Today, 16 June 2008, the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) distributed a news release, EPA Library on Effects of New Chemicals will Remain Closed. SLA was immediately in contact with EPA staff for a response, which follows below:

“As we stated in our ‘Report to Congress,’ EPA plans to re-open the Chemical Library along with the HQ and 3 Regional libraries. Most of the chemical library contents are already in DC but those materials which had been dispersed to other EPA libraries will be returned and shelved with the rest of the Chemical collection. We are currently in the process of recruiting a full-time professional librarian with chemical information knowledge to staff the Chemical Library. The Chemical Library is expected to cover nearly 2500 sq. feet. This is in addition to the planned 4500 square feet and 4.5 full time professional librarians and library technicians for the adjacent HQ repository library.

The American Federation of Government Employees, in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement, has requested to bargain over the reopening of the libraries. Given that negotiations on these libraries begin tomorrow (June 17, 2008), exact sizes for the libraries will not be fixed until an agreement has been reached.”

As information flows to SLA, we are committed to accurately reporting on topics of interest to our members. Information is often taken out of context or misinterpreted, and it is our goal to clarify current issues.

Read PEER News Release

Review SLA Timeline and Actions on EPA Libraries

View Information on EPA's National Library Network

For more information contact SLA Chief Policy Officer, Doug Newcomb.