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EPA PUTS LIBRARY ACTION PLAN ON HOLD
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has no plans to shut down more of its libraries and has ceased destroying duplicative research materials until it answers questions from Congress, a spokesperson said Friday.
Jessica Emond, the deputy press secretary at the EPA, said the agency has rescheduled “the recycling” of EPA materials that are duplicates or obsolete.
Leading Democratic lawmakers formally requested that the agency stop closing libraries and destroying documents until a congressional review could take place.
The EPA came under fire from open government advocates after it began shutting down libraries last fall. In total, the agency shut down five regional libraries and limited access at four others in its 26-library network.
The agency has defended its decision to close libraries, saying it will save the agency money. It has promised to digitize its collection, but has not released a plan as to how it would do that or how it would pay for that costly service.
“Our library modernization will provide better access to a wider audience,” Edmond said. “It will be at your fingertips whether you are in Washington or China.”
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