Where’s NTIS Moving, and When? 

After 45 years at the same location in Springfield, Virginia—just “Outside 

the Beltway” (as local jargon goes), NTIS is moving into a newer facility in

Alexandria, Virginia—just “Inside the Beltway.” Changes in technology 

and customer expectations have resulted in a change in our facility 

requirements. We’re very excited about this upcoming move, and many 

of us look forward to having windows, or easy access to them near our 

desks for the first time in years. If you’ve worked in inside space for any 

length of time, you know what a difference window access can make. 

We’ve already moved into a warehouse close to our new building in 

Alexandria, consolidating our local and off-site warehouses into one 

location to reduce costs and achieve greater efficiency in our operation. 

We hope to begin moving the rest of our staff in July, with completion of 

the move scheduled for August. 

As soon as we are moved in and have a new mailing address, I’ll send you 

an announcement. We hope you’ll be able to visit us at our new facility 

whenever you’re in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. 

 

National Technical Information Service www.ntis.gov pmoton@ntis.gov

U.S. Department of Commerce 703-605-6103 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

 

 CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S 

 Summer 2009 CORNER Volume 1, Issue 4 

 

I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE

1 Where’s NTIS Moving, and 

When? 

2 Let’s Talk to the Manager of 

the NTIS Office of 

Subscriptions 

3 NTIS’ Newest Addition – 

the National Technical 

Reports Library (NTRL) 

4 Where’s NTIS Exhibiting?

5 Are you interested in the 

health status of the 

United States?

6 Planning on a scuba diving 

vacation this summer? 

7 Kind words from one of our 

customers. 

Let’s Talk to the Manager of the NTIS 

Office of Subscriptions 

Wendy Campion has served in many capacities at NTIS over the past 15 1⁄2 

years, most recently as the Manager of our Office of Customer Relations 

and Subscriptions. Prior to that time, Wendy worked in several 

capacities in private industry. 

Pat Moton: “Wendy, how many subscription products does NTIS 

currently offer our customers, and where can they find a list of those 

subscriptions?” 

Wendy Campion: “We have 290 Regular Subscription products and 31 

Ongoing Subscriptions (standing orders). A partial listing of our 

“We have 290 Regular 

Subscription products 

and 31 Ongoing 

Subscriptions 

(standing orders).”

Please see Let’s Talk to the Manager of the NTIS Office of 

Subscriptions on page3. 
Page 2 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

NTIS’ NEWEST ADDITION – THE NATIONAL 

TECHNICAL REPORTS LIBRARY (NTRL) 

Locating Federally-funded and produced scientific and technical 

information has recently become much easier. NTIS has created a new 

IP-authenticated online subscription library with over 2 million records and 

links to over 550,000 full-text reports. 

The National Technical Reports Library (NTRL) was formally launched in 

April 2009 with a mandate to provide a more sophisticated platform for the

dissemination of information representing billions of dollars in Federal 

research to the widest possible audience. The NTRL includes information 

from a broad spectrum of Government agencies, including the Department 

of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 

and many others. Because we recognize your time is valuable, the NTRL 

was designed to provide you with an efficient and effective means of 

searching millions of bibliographic records, with the added bonus of 

providing links to the full-text of thousands of reports. The NTRL is a fluid 

environment with new records and full-text reports added weekly. In the 

current economic climate with the realities of leaner budgets, the NTRL is 

a proven method of not only saving time, but money by providing an 

overarching and cost-effective means of accessing authenticated 

Government information. To learn more about how the NTRL can help you 

access one of the largest archives of scientific and technical information 

representing billions of dollars in Federal research, please visit our Web 

site at http://www.ntis.gov/products/ntrl.aspx . 

If you are interested in discovering how the NTRL can help your 

rganization, you are invited to take a tour of the subscription service. 

ou can be provided with a complimentary 5-day trial to the NTRL to enjoy

o

Y

from your own desktop. Please contact ntrlhelpdesk@ntis.gov for more 

information concerning this no-obligation offer. 

 

“Because we recognize 

your time is valuable, 

the NTRL was 

designed to provide 

you with an efficient 

and effective means of 

searching millions of 

bibliographic records, 

with the added bonus 

of providing links to 

the full-text of 

thousands of reports.” 

WHER E’S NTIS EXHIBITING?

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

area. 

From August 9-12, NTIS will be exhibiting at the GovEnergy Workshop in 

Providence, Rhode Island, Booth No. 108. 

 * * * * * * * 

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

Let’s Talk to the Manager of the NTIS Office of Subscriptions

from Page 1

Wendy (Cont.): Regular Subscription products may be found at 

http://www.ntis.gov/products/subscriptions.aspx. 

Pat: “What is the difference between a Regular Subscription and an 

Ongoing Subscription (standing order) product?” 

Wendy: “Regular Subscriptions are released on a scheduled basis, but 

include many distribution frequencies depending upon the individual 

subscription. We currently have Regular Subscriptions that issue 2, 3, 4, 5, 

6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24, 26, 35, or 52 times per year. They may be 

available in paper, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, online, or in a choice of these 

multiple media types—depending upon the individual subscription. 

“An Ongoing Subscription (standing order) product, however, does 

not come out on a regimented basis. Ongoing Subscriptions are released on 

an irregular basis at the discretion of the responsible Government source 

agency. In addition, Ongoing Subscriptions have no expiration date. Unlike

Regular Subscriptions, Ongoing Subscriptions are not canceled until we are 

advised to do so by our customers. Ongoing Subscriptions are usually highinterest products such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract of 

the United States, the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, and 

the National Transportation Safety Board’s Accident Reports (including 

reports on aircraft, highway, railroad, marine, and pipeline accidents as 

well as safety recommendations and special reports). 

Pat: “Why is it so important that customers contact the Office of 

Subscriptions rather than the Sales Desk to inquire about NTIS subscription 

products and services?” 

Wendy: “While the Sales Desk Representatives have in-depth knowledge of

NTIS demand products, the Office of Subscriptions Representatives are 

dedicated to the dissemination of NTIS subscription products. Most of our 

Subscriptions staff members have been working with the subscription 

products for over two decades! They are equipped to answer inquiries on 

all of the subscription products NTIS offers and can provide historical 

information on back issues. The Office of Subscriptions Representatives 

present customers with the “soup-to-nuts” experience by answering 

inquiries, providing product information and order forms, producing price 

quotes and pro forma invoices, processing all written and online orders, 

handling cancellation and conversion requests, and assisting customers in 

navigating the NTIS Web site to locate subscription products and 

information. Orders for subscription products must be submitted in writing 

via mail, fax, or e-mail and must be prepaid with a check, credit card or 

NTIS Deposit Account. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, Monday 

through Friday. Our phone number is 1-800-363-2068. We can also be 

reached by e-mail at subscriptions@ntis.gov or by fax at 703-605-6880. 

Pat: “Thanks, Wendy. I’m sure our customers now have a better 

understanding of the subscription services offered by NTIS and how to easily

order those products to ensure they are kept informed on a continual 

basis.” 

 

“Most of our 

Subscriptions staff 

members have been 

working with the 

subscription products 

for over two decades!” 

 
Page 4 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

Are you interested in the health status of the

United States?

 

the Department of Health and Human Services 

and includes a chartbook and 151 detailed 

tables. This year, the annual report includes a 

pecial feature on young adults age 18 to 29 

years. It also includes information on health 

care resources, pointing out that until the mid20

Health, United States, 2008, 

is the 32nd annual report on 

the health status of the 

Nation. It was prepared for 

the President and Congress by 

 

th century, primary care physicians and general

hospitals were the major providers of health 

care. Now, there are more specialized health 

care facilities—outpatient surgical centers, 

dialysis centers, imaging centers, medical 

specialists, etc. In addition, the report discusses

expenditures and health insurance, use of and 

access to health care services, and disparities in 

health and health care by income and racial and 

ethnic group. 

This report is available from NTIS as PB2009-

106184 for $50 plus a handling fee. The full text

report may also be viewed at the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention Web site at 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm. 

Written and Edited by: 

Pat Moton 

Customer Advocate 

National Technical 

 Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161

Phone: 

703-605-6103 

Fax: 

703-605-6900 

E-mail: 

customeradvocate@ntis.gov 

s

Planning on a scuba diving vacation this 

summer?

Then you’ll be glad to know that NTIS offers the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) Diving Manual on CD-ROM 

for $89, plus shipping and handling (product 

number PB2002-500068.) 

 

expertise of more than 100 well known members

of the diving community. For more information 

on this manual, access 

http://www.ntis.gov/products/noaadive.aspx. 

As one of the most 

detailed diving references 

available, this manual is a 

“must have” resource for 

all serious divers. The 

NOAA Diving Manual 

reflects the wisdom, 

experience, and 

Kind words from one of our customers

“Thank you very much . . . for following through 

on this to resolve all hurdles and make a 

successful delivery . . . Your dedication to excel

in production and delivery of service is an 

inspiration. Great going . . .” James Paulman

Suggestions: Do you have a suggestion for an 

article you would like to see in a future issue of 

this newsletter? Just e-mail me at 

customeradvocate@ntis.gov. 

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.