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Specialized & Personalized DEQ’s Library Books are powerful tools to unlocking information. DEQ’s specialized library has been helping many do just that. Once you unlock a book, you start a journey that can take you anywhere. Much like the journey of DEQ’s library. The library started out with a few documents relating to air quality, accumulated by now DEQ Secretary Mike McDaniel and former employee Liz Santa, in the late 1980’s. The information that could have easily fit into a small closet has now vastly expanded. The location of the library within DEQ’s former building offered inadequate housing space for the growing number of resources the library was amassing. DEQ’s library is considered specialized because it houses a specialized collection the resources are very specific based on the subject areas. DEQ’s library is focused on the science, engineering, technology and regulations. Since moving to DEQ’s new Galvez Building location, the library features a much larger first floor facility and new hours. Located in the southwest corner, the spacious library provides ample room for small informal group meetings as well as secluded areas for reading. To showcase the new spaces and resources available, the library staff decided to take advantage of the Records and Information Management Month celebration and tie it into National Library Week. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. During the week of April 18-24 the library staff held an open house, gave a computer training tutorial, disseminated fact sheets, and put books and poster in the library’s windows. To gauge their endeavors the library developed a quick and simple survey that is used to further improve the facility. They also conducted tours to DEQ employees and the public, which focused on promoting library use and support. In an email to the agency one of the tour participants, Linda Broussard a Librarian with USGS National Wetlands Research, said, “As a member of the Special Libraries Association, I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Public Records Center, Imaging Operations, Topic File Linda Lightfoot, Baton Rouge Advocate Executive Editor and President of Louisiana Coalition for Open Government, Janelle Barnes, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and Secretary Mike McDaniel during a tour of the DEQ library. More than 50 individuals for local organizations participated in the tours held in celebration of RIMM. Page 10 Patty Birkett, Library Manager, front far right, describes the services offered by the library to DEQ employees. Members of the public are welcome to search for DEQ resource materials during regular business hours. Room, GIS Center, Legal Library, LDEQ Library, and the Records and Information Management offices. I work with researchers and the public on a daily basis who have a need to a wide variety of environmental information. This tour provided me with an update on the valuable information resources available through your Agency.” The library staff consists of Patty Birkett, DEQ Library Manager, Frank Truesdale, Librarian, Denise Roderick and Gaynell Holland, both library specialists. Patty has been with DEQ for three years, she said, “I choose to become a librarian because I wanted to contribute back to my ‘community’ what it had given to me.” Serving the informational and educational needs of DEQ employees and the citizens of Louisiana with personalized service is a hallmark of the staff. Special librarians are considered information resource experts who collect, analyze, evaluate and disseminate information to facilitate accurate decision-making in corporate, academic and/or government settings. “When individuals come in with specific needs that we can meet it is very rewarding,” Patty said. “I remember when I decided to become a librarian, I was very curious about ‘things’ that I knew very little about and enjoyed the ‘hunt’.” The library has more than 14,000 resources in technical fields that individuals can hunt through. Those resources are broken down into federal and Louisiana registers, journals, periodicals, magazines, books, newsletters, publications and federal registers on microfiche dating back to 1976. For convenience, the library features various sections. The reference shelves offer a mixture of tools for research across many disciplines. The textbook section provides professional references in the fields of business, technology, science and engineering. The Louisiana collection contains numerous DEQ publications as well as documents from private and public entities. The journals, magazines and newsletters surround the library on new display shelving. Housed in the rear of the library are federal publications from branches, departments and agencies of the United States government, like the Environmental Protection Agency. The library also offers training materials, audiocassettes and videos. These items can be enjoyed in the media center that contains a television, VCR and DVD player. For employees that prefer to do their own searches, the library offers one online public access computer. All resources are cataloged in a searchable database that employees can access from the personal computers through DEQ’s intranet. Currently resources are circulated only to DEQ employees. The public is encouraged and welcome to use the library and the professional expertise of its staff as much as possible. Just remember, if you want to take a journey, the library is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. to assist you.
Focus on Education Municipalities and parishes throughout the state have been sponsoring Keep America Beautiful “Waste In Place” teacher workshops, through funding from DEQ’s Litter Abatement Grant Program. The Keep America Beautiful “Waste In Place” curriculum guide, written by teachers for teachers, is presented at these workshops. Each participating teacher receives a guide which teaches an integrated approach to the management of municipal solid waste. The workshop offers an activity-based program composed of detailed and comprehensive lessons on litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy and landfills. DEQ’s goal is to provide this valuable resource to teachers so that they can help their students become more aware of the sources of municipal waste, the characteristics of this waste and the various options for handling it. After completing the “Waste In Place” workshop, teachers use this information in their classroom. With the help of teachers that are trained in the “Waste In Place” program, DEQ is able to reach thousands of students across the state each year. For more information go to www.deq.state.la.us/ assistance/litter/waste_ in_place_workshops. htm. Youth from throughout EBR Parish schools attended the second annual "Youth Power" Expo at the Baton Rouge River Center. They were given posters and information about ozone and how each person can help prevent its formation. Admon McCastle, Community and Industrial Relations Section, represented DEQ at the event and gave out the information. Keep America Beautiful “Waste in Place” Teacher Workshops Teachers teaching teachers about recycling and reuse is the basis for the Waste in Place program. DEQ Promotes Ozone Awareness at the second annual City-Wide Youth Power Expo Students at Oak Grove Primary in Prairieville Take Kid’s Pledge L ots of eager fourth graders’ hands reached into the air when Judy Deselle, Litter Reduction and Public Action, asked them “How long does it take a diaper to biodegrade and how much does it cost Louisiana to pick up litter every year?” After much guessing about the diaper, 450 years was the answer. It costs Louisiana over $10 million each year for litter. Judy Deselle, DEQ Litter Reduction and Public Action, shows a litter video to fourth grade students at Oak Grove Primary School in Prairieville. Judy and Teresa Edwards, Recycling, gave a presentation about litter to Charlotte Baker’s three fourth grade classes at Oak Grove Primary School in Prairieville. The children watched a 10-minute video on what do with litter, had a question and answer session, and were asked to sign a kid’s pledge to pick up litter. Packets of information including coloring books, crayons and bright yellow ruler with the 1- 800-litrbug litter number on the back, were handed out to each child. Judy explained that if you spot someone littering from a car, you can call the litter hotline and report their license plate number. DEQ sends them a letter warning them about the consequences of littering – fines, public service and even jail time. Judy also told the classes about two DEQ sponsored clean ups during the year, The Great American Clean up, March 1 to May 31, and Beach Sweep in September. The students were stumped when Judy asked them, “What is the number one piece of litter that is thrown out?” With a little help from Teresa, the kids came up with the answer, cigarettes.” This program, going into the schools and giving litter presentations, is part of DEQ’s continuing commitment to education and outreach. For more information go to www.deq.state.la.us/litter/geninfo.htm. Judy Deselle, Litter Reduction and Public Action, Teresa Edwards, Recycling and Charlotte Baker, fourth grade teacher, discuss the many programs available to the schools through DEQ. Page 11
Page 1 and 2: Spring 2004 Vol 4, No. 2 UPDATE In
Page 3 and 4: New Faces at DEQ Chuck Carr Brown,
Page 5 and 6: New Measures to Improve Air Quality
Page 7 and 8: A Day in the Life of… An Executiv
Page 9: Moving In the Right Direction Drink
Page 13 and 14: “Stepping Out to Save Lives” Yo
Page 15 and 16: DEQ Enforcement Activity (continued
Page 17 and 18: DEQ Enforcement Activity (continued
Page 19 and 20: DEQ Permit Activity continued Date

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