RE: Information Infrastructure

[Betty Winter <winter.betty@epa.gov>]

Hailing from the southeast, I heartily endorse your comments on needing more information access and distribution means than just electronic means.  Although I feel EPA needs to continue to push the electronic envelope and continue to improve our web site and access to EPA electronic databases, I also want EPA to continue seeking other ways to reach all of our customers.   I know that if many reural areas not only are libraries only open for a few hours a week but they are small and have little storage space and frequently one or fewer computers.  We need to seek other community respositories for our information in some areas -- perhaps community centers or neighborhood groups with meeting space.  Since these places do not have "librarians," this is one problem EPA has had in maintaining information in these areas.  Unfortunately, EPA resources to date have not always been sufficient to keep these up to date.  EPA could perhaps partner with local groups more to ensure that citizens in remote areas can have equal access to our information.  EPA staff also need to keep in mind that just providing data (which often is voluminous) will not reach every community and every customer's need -- we need to provide concise, clear summaries while always letting people know how to get more information if they want and need it. 

I'd appreciate more thoughts on good ways (electronic AND otherwise) to make information available.