An ALA Solution: Libraries involvement lacking (Reply to: Effectiveness of the New EPA Office of Environmental Information

[Fred Stoss <fstoss@acsu.buffalo.edu>]

This is the major focus of the American Library Association's 
Libraries Build Sustainable Communities initiative. I encourage librarians in all types of libraries to look at this site

http://www.ala.org/sustainablecommunities/

and see what is being proposed as a means for providing the
mechanisms for librarians "to sit at the table" with other
community leaders and decision makers. Librarians are far too 
oftne left out of the loop and their expertise, management 
skills, networks, and outreach potentials are not utilized to the
benefit of the communities they serve.

What is more ironic is that public libraries often serve as the
only repository of local government information and their archive
and historical collections can be invaluable data and information 
tools.

We have looked at several models in the past two weeks:

World Data Centers (National Academy of Science)
Libraries Build Sustainable Communities (American Library 
    Association)
National Library for the Environment (National Council for 
    Science and the Environment)

Combined with the libraries, and data and information 
resources of federal, state, county, and municpal environmental
agencies these for a rather LARGE nexus of environmental 
information.

We have some big sections of the environmental inforamtion puzzel
completed, and there are still thousands of pieces on the table.

What is needed is time, expertise, and support to complete the
picture. 

This two-week dialogue might prove that there are willing 
partners and a will to do this. No on to finding the means.

Fred Stoss
Science and Engineering Library
University at Buffalo