WE NEED YOUR INPUT

NTIS thrives on customer input. If there’s a product or subscription you would 

like to see us add to our collection, just let us know. We’ll pursue it. If you’d like 

to see different media options for a product you already receive, contact us. 

We’ll make it available, if possible. With a customer base as diverse as ours—

scientists, librarians, engineers, medical professionals, entrepreneurs, 

information specialists, educators, students, lawyers, and the general public—it is 

vital that we maintain an open dialogue with our customers. You are the expert 

in how NTIS can better serve your needs. We welcome your input. Just contact 

me at customeradvocate@ntis.gov or by phone at (703) 605-6103. I look forward 

to hearing from you.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE NTIS 

CATALOGING & INDEXING DIVISION?

If it wasn’t for the Cataloging & Indexing Division here at NTIS, we wouldn’t be 

able to find a thing. Sue Feindt has been the Manager of that Division for most of 

the 30 years she’s been at NTIS and provides interesting insight into the creation 

of the NTIS Database as well as unusual functions associated with that activity.

Pat Moton: “Sue, approximately how many items does NTIS add to its collection 

annually, and which agencies are our biggest contributors?”

Sue Feindt: “NTIS adds approximately 35,000 new titles to our database each

year. Our biggest contributors are the Defense Technical Information Center and 

the Department of Energy.”

Pat: “I understand you’ve had to give several court depositionsrelated to your 

position at NTIS. Would you elaborate on why such court depositions are 

necessary?”

I NSI DE T HIS ISSUE

1 We Need Your Input

2 What’s Happening in the 

NTIS Cataloging & 

Indexing Division?

3 NTIS Receives CFC 

Honor Award

4 Haiti Earthquake Crisis

5 Where’s NTIS Exhibiting? 

6 Driver Distraction 

Presents A Serious and 

Potentially Deadly Danger

7 Eating Hints: Before, 

During, and After Cancer 

Treatment 

“Would you elaborate on 

why such court depositions 

are necessary?”

 Please see page 3.

 

National Te chnic al Information S ervice www.ntis.gov pmot o n@ntis. gov 

U. S. Dep art ment o f Co m merce 703-605-6103

5301 Sh aw nee R o ad

Ale xandri a, V A 22312

 

 

 CUSTOMER

 ADVOCATE’S 

 Spring – April 2010 CORNER Volume 2, Issue 3

 
Page 2 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

“The earthquake in Haiti 

occurred on January 12, 

and this report was 

prepared on January 15.”

NTIS RECEIVES CFC HONOR AWARD

As you may be aware, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the only 

authorized charitable giving drive for Federal workplace employees—with 

the local campaign for Federal employees in the Washington, D.C., 

Metropolitan Area being the largest workplace giving campaign in the world. 

I am proud to report that, even in these challenging economic times, NTIS 

was able to raise 143 percent of its monetary goal for this campaign and 

earned an Honor Award “in recognition of exemplary support for people

through the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area.”

HAITI EARTHQUAKE CRISIS 

The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress prepared a 

report for Congress that focused on the immediate crisis as a result of the 

largest earthquake ever recorded in Haiti, and the U.S. and international 

response to that catastrophic event. The earthquake in Haiti occurred on 

January 12, and this report was prepared on January 15. Haiti’stop priority 

immediately following the earthquake was to conduct search and rescue 

operations for survivors. Other prioritiesincluded communications 

equipment, electricity generation capability, and an offshore vessel medical 

unit. The report, entitled Haiti Earthquake: Crisis and Response, may be 

ordered through the NTIS Web site at www.ntis.gov or by calling our Sales 

Desk at 1-800-553-NTIS(6847). Request product number PB2010-104656.

WHERE’S NTIS EXHIBITING?

We hope you’ll be able to stop by whenever NTIS is exhibiting in your area.

From June 13-15, NTIS will be exhibiting at the Special Libraries Association 

Annual Conference and INFO-EXPO in New Orleans, Louisiana, 

Booth No. 628.

 * * * * * * *

Are there upcoming conferences or events at which you feel an NTIS exhibit 

or speech would be a valuable contribution?

Just e-mail me at customeradvocate@ntis.gov or call me at 703-605-6103. 

I’ll be sure your suggestion is forwarded to the proper 

NTIS management staff.

 * * * * * * *
NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER Page 3

Sue: “Court depositions are necessary to validate the date a document is made 

available to the public. These disputes are usually patent infringement cases, and the 

date of availability is important to both parties.”

Pat: “What means do we use to collect the reports we add each year?

Sue: “We have an aggressive harvesting program that collects reports in two 

different ways: manually; and systematically, where we target Web sites and crawl 

them for new reports on a monthly basis. Sources also send full text reports or URL’s

to input@ntis.gov for NTIS to process. In addition, we continue to receive paper 

reports. Our largest contributor, the Defense Technical Information Service, sends 

NTIS reports via CD with a bibliographic record.”

Pat: “What subject areas are covered in the products added to the NTIS collection?”

Sue: “NTIS covers a multitude of subject areas including, but not limited to health, 

environment, energy, and transportation. Customers can go to

http://www.ntis.gov/about/coverage.aspx to view a comprehensive list of the 

extensive topics covered in the NTIS collection.” 

Pat: “How is the NTIS Database created so customers can easily locate a document?” 

Sue: “The NTIS Database is comprised of over three million titles, some dating back to 

the 1800’s. It is one of the most respected databases in the world due in part to the 

consistency in which key elements are entered. We create our bibliographic records 

using the COSATI (Committee on Scientific and Technical Information) Standards. The 

Cataloging/Indexing Team is a well established group that takes great pride in 

providing the public with the best product possible.”

Pat: “As you know, the 2010 Census is now being conducted. Does NTIS carry any 

reports related to past Census efforts?” 

Sue: “NTIS has a fairly extensive collection of Census reports, including a report from 

1821 from Secretary of State John Quincy Adams discussing the transmission of 

documents relating to the fourth census. Customers who would like to purchase a 

copy should call our Sales Desk at 1-800-553-NTIS(6847) and ask for PB2005-106575.”

Pat: “Are some of the reports for sale from NTIS also available on the Web at no 

charge? If so, what advantage does a customer gain from coming to NTIS first?”

Sue: “There are reports in the NTIS Database that are available on the Web at no 

charge; however, Government agencies do not always keep all reports available on 

the Web. NTIS is one-stop shopping. It saves time and money by not having to search 

over several Web sites for a particular document, assures the customer they are 

receiving the official Government copy of the document, and, as part of the NTIS 

mission, all documents are available in perpetuity.”

Pat: “Thanks, Sue, for providing us an inside glance at the Cataloging & 

Indexing Division.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE NTIS CATALOGING & INDEXING DIVISION? from Page 1

 

“NTIS is one-stop 

shopping.”
Page 4 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

Driver Distraction Presents a Serious and 

Potentially Deadly Danger

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) has published a Traffic Safety Facts Research 

Note entitled An Examination of Driver Distraction as 

Recorded in NHTSA Databases. The report points out 

that measuring driver distraction in the field is not 

only difficult, but potentially imprecise because of 

self-reporting and timing of data collection. However, 

at least one form of driver distraction wasincluded in 

police-reported crashes in 2008 in which 5,870 people 

lost their lives and an estimated 515,000 people were 

injured.

The greatest proportion of distracted drivers wasin 

the under-20 age group. Sadly, 16 percent of all 

under-20 drivers in fatal crashes were reported to 

have been distracted while driving. Increased 

attention has been placed on the dangers of cell 

phone use and texting while driving. 

This report can be purchased from NTIS as product 

number PB2010-101801. It can also be viewed at the 

NHTSA Web site at 

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811216.PDF.

Written and Edited by:

Pat Moton

Customer Advocate

National Technical

 Information Service

5301 Shawnee Road

Alexandria, VA 22312

Phone:

703-605-6103

Fax:

703-605-6900

E-mail:

customeradvocate@ntis.gov

 

Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer 

Treatment for individuals who are about to get, or are 

now getting, cancer treatment. The information in 

this volume will aid those fighting cancer by offering 

suggestions regarding the possible need for dietary 

changes and alternative approaches to food 

consumption (such as eating six times a day rather 

than the traditional three). It also explores how 

feelings can affect your appetite and provides hints to 

manage eating problems. Various recipes are 

included throughout the book, including: banana 

milkshake; lactose-free double chocolate pudding; 

and peanut butter snack spread. 

As stated in its subtitle, this book can be helpful 

before, during, and after cancer treatment. Family 

and friends may also appreciate the guidance and 

insight it provides as they assist you in your battle 

with this disease. Eating Hints: Before, During, and 

After Cancer Treatment, PB2010-101625, can be 

purchased through the NTIS Web site at www.ntis.gov

or by calling our Sales Desk at 1-800-553-NTIS(6847).

If you have not already subscribed to receive 

future copies of this free quarterly newsletter, 

please send an e-mail to:

customeradvocate@ntis.gov

Please include “Subscribe to NTIS Customer 

Advocate’s Corner” in the subject line of your e-mail.

To access previous issues, go to 

http://www.ntis.gov/help/overview.aspx#CACN

Previous issues are listed under the red highlighting.

When fighting cancer, 

it is important to 

keep up your 

strength. You may 

need to include extra 

calories and protein 

in your diet. You may 

need to add sauces 

and gravies to your 

food to aid in 

swallowing. The

National Cancer 

Institute has created