Project Announcement
Summary
Methodology
Discussion Agenda
Summary
This is an online Dialogue
among librarians, community members, representatives of environmental
organizations and the EPA where we will explore how best to use
libraries for public access to environmental information. Particular
attention will be given to electronic information and how to improve
its scope and utility. The Dialogue will take place over a two week
period and will include a panel of experts and local stakeholders.
Results of the Dialogue
will be posted on a Web site which will be maintained by Information
Renaissance as a public reference resource. This site will provide
a searchable record of the Dialogue which will be supplemented by
a short summary report available in print and online.
Methodology
Information Renaissance
("Info Ren") is working with the Environmental Law Institute ("ELI")
to conduct this National Dialogue on Capacity Building via the Internet.
The Dialogue will focus upon using libraries as a source of environmental
information with particular attention to the online resources of
the EPA and state environmental agencies. Info Ren has constructed
a Web site containing introductory background material and a registration
form for participants. A minimum of 50 participants will be recruited
through printed announcements and online postings provided by ELI
and EPA. The same mechanisms will be used to seek a broader audience
of up to 250 people, including environmental writers, governmental
staff and the general public.
The Dialogue will be
structured around an online panel discussion involving people selected
-- for the purpose of demographic diversity -- from the following
categories:
- Experienced environmental librarian
- Public reference
librarian
- Experienced member
of a Washington-based environmental organization
- Local stakeholders:
planner, elected
representative, community
group member
- EPA representative
(to provide content and technical assistance)
- Representative of
a state environmental agency Industry
representative/trade association representative
The Dialogue will be
moderated by Steve Curwood, the Executive Producer and Host of National
Public Radio's Living on Earth.
In the course of the
Dialogue participants will identify problems that exist in their
attempts to access environmental information, including such issues
as:
- Alignment of state
and federal databases
- Explanations of technical
materials online
- Description of procedures
for citizen involvement
- Organization of the
EPA Web site
- Catalogues of environmental
information resources
- Needed Web skills
Panelists and participants
will propose and catalogue solutions to these problems in the course
of the Dialogue. EPA staff will respond to questions from librarians
and the public about EPA Web resources. This information and lists
of the useful online resources identified by the Dialogue's participants
will reside on a Web site which will be maintained as a public resource
for at least a year after the active part of the Dialogue has ended.
This material will form a searchable archive of value to members
of the public interested in finding environmental information to
support their local environmental efforts. Following the Dialogue
Info Ren will write a brief summary of the Dialogue whichwill be
available online and in print. The summary will include recommendations
for action, suggestions for the improvement of EPA information resources
and ideas for pilot projects.
For further information
send e-mail to epa@network-democracy.org
(Information Renaissance) or bonner.patricia@epa.gov
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) or call Laurie Maak at 888-638-5323.
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