Academia and the Environment. An Academic Library’s Response to Needs for Environmental Information? ARLEEN N. SOMERVILLE University of Rochester Library, Rochester, New York 14627 Received October 27, 1975 Environmental information and data can be characterized as interdisciplinary, dispersed among a wide variety of sources, occasionally unpublished, and subject to frequent changes. These characteristics make it both more difficult and easier for academic libraries to supply this information than industrial libraries. The environment of the academic library, and specifically the University of Rochester Library, is discussed in relation to the needs for environmental information, priorities for acquiring needed materials, and methods of providing information. The Guide to Emironmental Information, which was developed to help students locate information throughout the University Library system, is discussed, as well as other approaches designed to handle categories of frequently requested information. CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE One of the most important characteristics of environmental literature and data is that it draws upon many disciplines. The subjects range from sciemtific-engineering-medicalareas, such as geology, chemistry, biology, hydrology, pollution, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, operations research-in fact, a number of specialities within each-to such social science areas as economics and economic policy, management, political policy, and social implications. Published literature from these diverse subjects are dispersed among a wide variety of sources. As a result, the information is not organized in a manner which would provide effective and ready access from the environmental point of view. This is true even for published information covered by indexing and abstracting journals. The recent efforts of Chemical Abstracts and Engineering Index to rearrange and/or to enlarge their coverage of energy topics will be helpful. The emergence of some environmental indexes, such as Environment Abstracts and Environment Reporter, has also helped, but they do not cover all aspects of the subject either. The NSF-funded information clearinghouse located at Battelle Memorial Institute has potential for providing access to energy-related information. Environmental data are often unpublished, and knowledge of their existence come:; after long or intensive experience in the field. More importantly, a good deal of relevant information and data appears in publications which are not indexed or are indexed inadequately, often because they deal with local and regional geographic areas. However, many environmental concerns relate to specific geographical areas, and this means that a sizable portion of relevant information is not easily accessible. Prime examples of publications which contain relevant data and information but are not indexed adequately are environmental impact statements. Some statements bring together extremely valuable information about seismic and other geologic conditions which may have been either unavailable previously or scattered among many references. At present, regional and/or national information centers t Presented in the symposium on “Information Requirements Resulting From Environmental Impact Laws”, 1)ivision of Chemical Information, 170th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, Ill., Aug 27, 1975.
which acquire environmental data and develop generalized models do not exist to the extent that they do for some other fields, such as accident information which is available from the Highway Research Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich. In environmental studies, local conditions may be important, so the use of generalized models must be approached with care. However, some progress has been made in developing models, as is seen in the development of the Delaware River estuary model, which was used to assign load allocations to discharges in the estuary in order to maintain a predetermined water use. Another example is the present development of a eutrophication model of Lake Ontario, which was part of the International Field Year for the Great Lakes. THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE The academic library is generally better prepared to satisfy the information needs of environmentalists than are most industrial libraries, because it has traditionally developed book and journal collections to support a wide range of academic teaching and research programs. Most industrial libraries collect materials on a narrower basis. However, even many academic libraries have previously not had to acquire materials in such applied areas as fisheries, agriculture, soils, etc. This was especially true for libraries serving universities which emphasize fundamental research in the biological and physical sciences departments. With the increased interest in environmental information, there has been a need to add materials in more applied fields. And, because environment literature is often related to specific locations, a simultaneous need has arisen to develop collections about geographic areas, such as the Great Lakes. Because a sizable amount of data is available only outside the regular publishing channels, academic librarians are at a disadvantage, because traditionally they have generally provided only references to documents. Industrial librarians have much more frequently provided data and information, sometimes evaluated, and have used whatever means necessary to obtain them. The University of Rochester is a small university which, in its biological and physical sciences departments, is a fundamental research-oriented institution. A number of unique features influence the kinds of information needs of our users, the groups of users which need information, and the availability
Journal of Chemical Information and Computer Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 1 , 1976
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SOMERVILLE of information within the University and the Rochester community. The University is fortunate to be located in a community that is unusually active regarding environmental issues. A number of environmentally oriented groups exist, ranging from those such as the Monroe County Environmental Management Council and the Center for Environmental Information which have full-time paid staff, to those such as the Rochester Committee for Scientific Information which rely on volunteer help. University students and faculty are frequently referred to these groups for consultation, and, in turn, the individuals associated with these groups frequently use the University libraries. At least one chemical laboratory in Rochester specializes in environmental analysis, and one prominent local law firm is well known for its active involvement in environmental issues. This law firm, as well as the county law library, maintains an environmental literature collection which is used quite often by some University students and faculty. The Environmental Protection Agency Region I1 Field Office for Western New York is located in Rochester and for the past three years has been housed on the University of Rochester campus. This move has provided easier access to its library facilities and to the expertise of its staff members. The University’s College of Engineering does not include a civil engineering department, so materials on subjects such as hydraulics, etc., which overlap with environmental concerns were generally not available in the past. There is no law school at this time at the University, nor in the city of Rochester, a fact which affects both the kinds of information requested, as well as the availability of information within our own library. Strong environmental research programs, especially in toxicology areas, are headquartered at the Medical Center and individuals associated with these groups rely heavily on the Medical Library for support. The main campus libraries are connected with the Medical Library by daily messenger service, so we are able to share materials. Four branch science libraries (Chemistry/Biology/Mathematical Sciences, Geological Sciences, Engineering, and Physics) located in four different buildings on campus include environmental materials, as well as the main library. Although the library location of many books and journals is predictable from the subject, this is not always the case, and users must learn to check the card catalog in the main library, which is the only listing of all publications in the main campus libraiy system. Most of our faculty research on environmental issues is centered in the Engineering College. Strong programs on solid wastes disposal, water pollution, and air pollution are carried on by chemical engineering faculty. Although in the past some members of the chemistry and biology departments have worked on environmental research topics, they have since moved to more fundamental research concerns. One geology professor still maintains a strong interest in environmental teaching and research. Graduate research in the sciences reflects the interests of the faculty. A recent trend toward graduate research on environmental issues has developed in several nonscience departments. Although faculty members in the economics and political science departments and School of Management have not shifted their own research attention to the environment, they have apparently recognized the need for research in this area and have encouraged graduate students to select dissertation topics on this subject. It is in the course work area that the widespread interests of students are reflected. Many undergraduate and some graduate courses dealing with environmental issues are taught in the biology, geology, physics, economics, chemical engineering, and mechanical-and-aerospace sciences departments. An A.B. degree program in environmental studies can be worked out with a faculty member under the Interdepart2
mental Program of the College of Arts and Sciences, and a program leading to the Master of Science in General Studies with a major in Environmental Studies is offered in the Evening School. In addition there are undergraduate degree programs in geomechanics and biology/geology that serve environmental majors. Many of the undergraduates in these programs undertake serious environmental research projects as juniors and seniors, because they see a need for this kind of activity and plan to work in this area after graduation. Several of the undergraduate courses are very popular and enjoy large enrollments. These courses generally require term papers of substantial lengths. Given this alignment of interests, the University’s library mostly supports the needs of undergraduates who are writing papers, with a smaller amount of support going to faculty and graduate students. This orientation toward student needs affects the kind of information support the library is called on to provide. Few literature searches are completed by the library staff for faculty members. Instead, most of our time is spent guiding students to relevant sources, helping them use the sources, and aiding them in locating documents and data. The library uses a variety of methods to acquire the materials needed by its users. Acquiring materials from local and regional agencies is a time-consuming and continuous task. Frequently these agencies print small numbers of their publications which go out of print quickly or they do not maintain either standing orders or even mailing lists. We must continuously contact those agencies in the latter instance to see if they have published materials which we need. Sometimes more than one letter is required to get a response. Access to Federal agencies’ publications is under better control: the library is a depository for Superintendent of Documents publications, with nondepository items available on microcard. Series such as the former AEC publications and the current ERDA series are received on a depository basis. Other technical reports must be ordered individually. The Library must continue to acquire materials to support the fundamental research activities, so the need to select environmental materials represents an additional requirement at a time when the purchasing power of the budget has decreased. Therefore, materials on environmental matters must be selected very carefully. Research-level materials are chosen, with popular-level items generally excluded. The items selected must cover both the scientific/engineering areas and the economics/public policy/social implications areas in order to satisfy all needs. We need to keep up to date on the contents of courses and research projects, so we select publications that will be used. Carefully evaluated directories, bibliographies, and related reference books are high priority items. Some indexing and abstracting journals in this area have been ordered, Journals, which are both costly and involve continuing commitments, have not been acquired to the extent we would like. We have ordered only those journals which are particularly important for our users. Thus, budgetary limitations restrict the number of environmental journals and books which can be purchased. In addition, the interdisciplinary nature of environmental subjects and the importance of geographically specific materials require access to an enormous array of publications. As a result, we can acquire only the items of greatest importance and must rely on the interlibrary loan system to supply the remainder. LOCATING ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
In order to help students locate information for their papers, we need to remember that materials are scattered in five locations on the main University campus plus the Medical Library, that the literature is dispersed among many sources, and that less conventional means must be used to locate in-
Journal of Chemical Information and Computer Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1976
ACADEMIA AND formation available only outside the regular publishing channels. We have developed some techniques to help us over these hurdles; we do not see them as the final answer, and we continuously work to update and improve our methods. Because many students' questions relate to the Rochester area, we have developed an environment file in the Geological Sciences Library, which includes materials relating to the local region, as well as moire general topics that are frequently requested. Environmental impact statements for the western New York area are acquired and kept in this file. Most of the other items are pamphlets and articles generally not cataloged as part of the main collection. The subject headings selected are based on the kinds of questions that the users ask, so they find that this file is handy and check it first. A unique method that we use to locate published materials is the Guide to Environmental Information, which was developed with the undergraduate science user in mind. The Guide was designed to serve two purposes: (1) to help the student locate secondary sources on the main campus that will lead one to primary publications which contain the desired information; and (2) to show, in a concise and practical way, how to use the second,ary sources. The Guide was initially developed to help students taking two undergraduate geology courses: "Geology and Public Policy" and "Environmental Decisions". So although the Guide is slanted toward scientific materials, it also includes sources for information about governmental activities ,at all levels. The Guide brings together sources from a number of subject areas which are housed in four of the five libraries on campus. The Guide is available for consultation in the Geological Sciences Library and the Reference Department of the main library. The first part of the Guide is an index which points users to the sources, e.g.
THE
ENVIRONMENT I.ldex
Rush R h e e s Ref.
Engineering
ZT
Published s i n c e 1892.
3 E574
Available:
Rush Rhees, 1892-1968 Engr. Lib., 1947-date
AND P u b l i s h e d m o n t h l y ; c u m u l a t e d annually
Engr. L i b . Covers:
Ref.
ZT 3
journal a r t i c l e s r e s e a r c h reports some c o n f e r e n c e p a p e r s
E574
Very good c o v e r a g e of t h e m a t e r i a l f r o m t h e t e c h n i c a l p o i n t of v i e w P r o v i d e s a c o n c i s e a n d i n f o r m a t i v e a b s t r a c t of e a c h a r t i c l e . A r r a n g e d by s u b j e c t o n l y . I n c l u d e s a n a u t h o r i n d e x i n e a c h m o n t h l v i s s u e and i n t h e annual cunulatlon.
HOW t o u s e :
1.
Check f o r all p e r t i n e n t s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s
some c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s l i s t e d i n f r o n t o f f i r s t bound volume of each veer since 1 9 6 9 .
a . Vain s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s and
use as a g u i d e i n f i n d i n g a l l s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s of i n t e r e s t .
b . F o l l o w t h r o u g h on " s e e ' ' references. T h e y s e n d you f r o m synonymous t e r m s not u s e d i n Index t o t h e s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s t h a t are u s e d . C .
2.
C a r e f u l l y c h e c k all " s e e a l s o " r e f e r e n c e s ( g i v e n immedia t e l y under s u b j e c t heading). F o l l o w t h r o u g h on a l l p e r t i n e n t a d d i t i o n a l subject headings.
I f a p a r t i c u l a r a u t h o r i s known t o w r i t e on a s u b j e c c , c h e c k Author Index f a r w a r s (and n a n t h s ) of i n t e r e s t . a . Numbers i n t h e I n d e x t h r o u g h 1 9 6 8 r e f e r t o p a g e numbers Yuet s c a n p a g e t o l o c a t e a u t h o r ' s name, p r i n t e d i n all capital letters. b . B e g i n n i n g w i t h 1969, numbers r e f e r t o p a g e n u m b e r , t h e n a b s t r a c t l u m b e r ( w h i c h IS l i s t e d a t e n d o f a b s t r a c t ) .
3.
P u b l i c a t L o n t i t l e s a r e a l w a y s g i v e n in a b b r e v i a t e d f o r m . F o r f u l l t i t l e , check l i s t of a'sbreviated t i t l e s u s e d , which a p o e a r s in f r o n t of f i i $ c bound volume f a r e a c h y e a r . (1.3.: m o n t h l v i s s u e s f o r t h e c u r r e n t "ear d o n o t i n c l u d e t h i s l i s t . )
Use o f s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s :
Pollution, legal aspects Air Pollution Abstracts (for air pollution) Air Pollution Publications (for air pollution) CIS/Index Congressional Quarterly Weekly Reports (Congressional Quarterly Almanac) Energy Index Engineering Index (to some extent) National Journal (for Federal government activities) Oceanic Abstracts (for water pollution) Public Affairs Information Service
1.
De t e r g e n t S Dredging Envlromental engineering Feedwater t r e a t m e n t Herbicides I n d u s t r i a l wastes Lead a n d a l l a y s Lead compounds Yine d u s t Ylaeral I n d u s t r y & resourcces etc
2.
Index entries are revised and expanded as the need arises. The major part of the Guide contains a concise and practical description of how to u:se each source. Publications included in the Guide at this paint are: Air Pollution Publications Analytical Abstracts Applied Science and Technology Index Bibliography and 1ndr:x of Geology Bibliography of Agriculture CIS/Index Congressional Quarterly Almanac Congressional Quarterly Weekly Reports Energy Index (formerly Environment Index) Engineering Index Environment Abstracts (formerly Environment Information Access) Environment Reporter Monthly Catalog (of the U S . Superintendent of Documents) National Journal New York (State) Checklist of Official Publications of the State of York . . New . .-... New York Times Index Oceanic Abstracts Pollution Abstracts Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS)
s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s t e n d t o be s p e c i f i c , b u r o c c a s i o n a l l y g e n e r a l h e a d i n g s a r e n s e d . Examples:
Subject headings o f t e n have subheadings f o r s m a l l e r a s p e c t s of s u b j e c t o r g e o g r a p h i c a l l o c a t i o n s . Check a l l . Examples:
"uc1ear power p l a n t s - Accident prevention Canada - Construction - Control etc.
-
Sewage t r e a t m e n t - Activated sludge - Aeration - B i o c h e m i c a l o x y g e n demand - Detergent e f f e c t s Filters - Flocculation etc.
-
3.
Example of d i f f e r e n t s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s u s e d by two p u b l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e same s u b j e c t :
"Suclear e n e r g y " "Uuclear power" (Engineering Index)
YS.
"Atomic power"
(Applied S c i e n c e a n d Technologv Index)
F i e r e 1.
A separate guide on how to use Chzmical Abstracts is available, but an adaptation for this Guide will be completed this fall. The following information is generally provided for each source:
Journal of Chemical Information and Computer Sciences, Vol. 16, NO. 1, 1976 3
1. location or locations of the publication in the library system 2. number of years available in the library 3. how the information is arranged in the publication 4. how to use the publication a. indicates the level of the information, when appropriate b. provides information about the kinds of indexes available and how to use them c. gives examples of the subject headings used 5. when to use it 6. some sample pages
Pages from the Guide for Engineering Index are shown in Figure 1. Students often elect to write about environmental matters relating to their home area, so another method used for locating published information about United States localities is for them to go directly to the various state agency publication series (mostly geological and water) in the stacks. These publications often yield worthwhile information, but the indexing of them in the major index journal for those materials is inconsistent and undependable. A less conventional source, but one which is essential for many environmental projects, is the 7.5-min state topographic maps published by the U S . Geological Survey. These are usually consulted early in the project to identify the topography of the area; access to them is by the index maps provided by
4
the Geological Survey. To locate other information and data, most of which are unpublished or published outside the regular publishing channels, a variety of techniques is used. For local area subjects, we guide students to local government agencies, such as the Monroe County Pure Waters Agency and the Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council. Sometimes publications such as annual reports of agencies like the Monroe County Health Office, which are not covered by indexing and abstracting journals, can be helpful sources. We are fortunate because one of the local environment groups, the Rochester Committee for Scientific Information, conducts research about the Rochester region and publishes the results in its Bulletin. This useful source of information and data is consulted frequently. The other citizen groups mentioned earlier are other sources to which we refer users. Occasionally students use the library of the EPA Field Office on campus, although we try other places first. Some of our faculty members have served as consultants for local agencies and groups, and their knowledge of information sources can be tapped, also. To obtain unpublished data and information published outside the regular commercial channels for geographical areas beyond the Rochester region, we rely on a carefully selected collection of directories to locate relevant agencies and groups. Students who have written to these agencies have usually found that the response has been satisfactory. One difficulty here, however, is that students frequently do not begin work on papers early enough to allow for contacting these groups.
Journal of Chemical Information and Computer Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1976
