**GAO-10-947**                      Published: Sep 30, 2010. Publicly Released: Nov 01, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) library network provides agency staff and the public with access to environmental information. A 2006 attempt by EPA to reorganize its network by consolidating libraries and making more materials and services available online caused concern among users, and in 2007, EPA put a moratorium on its reorganization plans. Congress requested that GAO report on the reorganization and has again requested a follow-up on these issues. Accordingly, GAO reviewed (1) the status of EPA's overall strategy for its library network, (2) the status of EPA's plan to reopen the libraries it closed and other actions planned or taken, (3) EPA's efforts to digitize printed documents to make them electronically available, and (4) EPA's efforts to communicate with staff and other stakeholders about its library network. GAO reviewed regulations and agency funding and inventory documents and interviewed EPA staff and contractors, as well as independent library professionals. GAO also assessed the reliability of EPA's data on library holdings and from EPA's staff survey on library use and needs.

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Electronic publicationsElectronic publishingElectronic records managementFederal agency reorganizationInformation accessInformation resources managementInventoriesLibrariesStrategic planningNeeds assessment