Back in the July/August 2005 issue of ONLINE , Amy Affelt contributed an article titled “Envisioning the Environment: The U.S. EPA Web Site,” all about the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site. She gave particular attention to its Online Library System. Now the Bush administration’s proposed budget would essentially eliminate not only the OLS but the libraries as well. John Heilprin, an AP Datastream journalist, wrote on February 10, 2006 that the “EPA budget cuts trouble environment groups.” His article was picked up by many daily newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News . He reports that the EPA intends to cut 80% of the library budget, from $2.5 million to $500,000. This would basically cut out the reading rooms and the libraries.

I’m embarrassed by the quote from EPA spokeswoman Eryn Witcher who thinks that simply providing information online rather than in physical form will be superior to having reading rooms and libraries. A library collection of e-journals with no librarians? Not good. As far as I can tell, there are at least 15 EPA librarians who are members of SLA . Wonder if the association will take a position on this? I’m also wondering what Northern Light’s David Seuss thinks about this, since his company’s enterprise search engine is to be used for the EPA Web site.

Reaction was strong from the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility , which asks, “How are EPA scientists supposed to engage in cutting edge research when they cannot find what the agency has already done?” Good question.

The Rocky Mountain News notes the impact the budget decreases would have on its local EPA library.

Christina’s rant on the subject is wonderful.