GAZETTE Volume 20, No. 8 • March 13, 2009 • A weekly publication for Library staff Head of EPA Announces New Era for Agency By Audrey Fischer PA is back on the job. This is what Lisa Perez Jackson E wants people to know about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the organization she was selected by President Barack Obama to lead. Jackson delivered this message during her keynote address on March 5 to begin the Library’s 2009 celebration of Women’s History Month. This year’s national theme is “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.” “Thanks to President Obama’s budget, EPA will have its highest level of support in its 39-year-history,” said Jackson, the first African American to hold the posi- Barry Wheeler tion. “We are rising above past divides Maria A. Pallante, left, associate register for policy and international affairs in the Copy- right Office, presents EPA Administrator Lisa Perez Jackson with a facsimile of a 1722 that have slowed down progress on the plan of her hometown of New Orleans, from the Geography and Map Division. environment for decades.” between family and a career.” other women at the forefront today. In little more than 30 days since Demonstrating a strong sense of his- “I am here because of a long line of coming to the helm, Jackson has led tory, the new EPA head acknowledged a women who took the lead to save the the agency’s review of a number of the debt to the women who paved the way world,” she said, referring to women’s previous administration’s policies, such for her, such as House Speaker Nancy contributions to the environment and as automobile emissions standards and Pelosi, first lady Michelle Obama and HEAD OF EPA, continued on page 5 air quality in the vicinity of schools. “Parents deserve to know that the air their children breathe is safe,” she said. A chemical engineer by training and All Staff Invited to Celebrate LCPA’s 40th profession, Jackson was one of only two Forty years ago, in 1969, Richard collection of films through a cooperative women in the engineering program at Nixon was sworn in as the 37th president program with the American Film Institute, Princeton in the 1970s. But times were of the United States. The Apollo 11 astro- as well as the unparalleled Feinberg col- changing and the status of women in the nauts reached the moon. Half a million lection of Walt Whitman materials. And workplace was improving. music fans flocked to Woodstock, the the Library of Congress Professional “I was searching for a way to serve. Chicago Eight stood trial for activities at Association (LCPA) came into being EPA offered a place for talented young with 100 members and annual dues of $1. women to come and to thrive,” she said, the 1968 Democratic National Convention Glen Zimmerman, Bob Zich, Edith Scott recalling the early days of the agency, and “Sesame Street” made its television which was founded in 1970. Jackson premiere. and Jerry Pennington were the new staff served initially at EPA’s headquarters in Here at the Library, some big things organization’s officers. Washington, D.C., and later at its regional were happening too: The first five vol- To celebrate LCPA’s 40th anniversary, office in New York. umes of the Pre-1956 National Union meet old friends and make some new “I received a promotion shortly after Catalog were published, and the first com- ones, learn about educational forums my second child was born,” Jackson puter tapes of MARC records were being and other activities and enjoy some light noted. “Women shouldn’t have to choose distributed. The Library acquired a huge CELEBRATE LCpa, continued on page 4 2 Library OF CONGRESS Gazette MARCH 13, 2009 NOTICES BRING KIDS TO WORK ON APRIL 23 Staff members are invited to participate in the Volunteers are needed to help organize GAZETTE Library’s annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons escorts for the tours and to serve as escorts, www.loc.gov/staff/gazette To Work Day,” which is a national event that to register young people for the tours and other helps girls and boys discover what the adults assignments. Staff wishing to volunteer may MATTHEW RAYMOND in their lives do every day in the workplace. contact Tynesha Adams, Human Resources Executive Editor GAIL FINEBERG This also is an opportunity for young people to Services, by e-mail [email protected] or call Editor learn about Library careers to which they 7-5232. Contributing Editors: Erin Allen, Calendar; might aspire. People may register participants online at Carlin “René” Sayles, Moving On and Length of Service; Whether they are parents, grandparents or www.loc.gov/staff/todsd from their own Runako Balondemu, Donated Leave nonfamily mentors, Library staff members are computers or at the computers in room Proofreader: George Thuronyi encouraged to bring the children in their lives LM-107. Online registration opened on March Design and Production: Susan Washington to work on Thursday, April 23. 9. For additional information contact event co-chairwomen Robin Patterson at 7-7191 or PETER BRAESTRUP JAMES W. McCLUNG Founder Founding Publisher Activities for children ages 8 to 15 will begin e-mail at [email protected] or Cynthia Murphy, (1990 – 1997) (1990 – 1994) at 9 a.m. in the Madison Hall of the James 7-5773 or by e-mail [email protected]. Both work Madison Building and will close at noon. in Human Resources Services. An official publication of the Library of Congress, The Gazette encourages Library managers and staff to submit articles and photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to PARKING PROGRAM OPEN SEASON BEGINS convey the most necessary information. This week, March 9 – 13, was the first of two weeks of Parking Program open season. Deadline for submission of articles is 5 p.m. Wednesday, one week prior to publication date. Please submit text in digital Staff should submit their applications on or before 5 p.m. Friday, March 20, for form via e-mail ([email protected]) preferably as an attachedM icrosoft the April – October 2009 Parking Program period. Word file. For more information, visit this website: www.loc.gov/staff/iss/parking.html. Back issues of The Gazette in print are available in the Public Eligible staff members may apply online. Affairs Office, LM 105. Electronic archived issues and the a color pdf file of the current issue are available online at www.loc.gov/staff/gazette. Dear Colleagues, Library of Congress Upon my retirement, which took effect on Feb. 28, I wish to express Washington, DC 20540-1620 my gratitude to the Library of Congress for enabling me to sustain myself Editorial: Gail Fineberg, 7-9194, [email protected] and my family for 40 years. Design and production: Susan Washington, 7-9193, [email protected] • During all those years the Library was my home away from home. It was a privilege for me to work for this world-wide known, prestigious ISSN 1049-8184 Printed on paper that contains recycled paper by the institution of knowledge. I have had an opportunity to work with people from all over the Printing Management Section, Office Systems Services world—good people and not-so-good people, as it happens in everyday life. As a cataloger I always tried my best to fulfill my obligations. I wish to thank my supervisors Angela Kinney, Robert C. Morgan and Gabriel C. Horchler for their excellent Gazette Welcomes Letters from Staff The staff is invited to use the Forum pages for lively and thoughtful leadership, guidance and amicable attitude toward the staff. debate relevant to Library issues. However, just as other newspa- I wish everybody in the ex-CEEL Team good luck in their careers as well as in their per editors exercise discretion over which letters to publish and how to edit them, so do we. In deciding whether or how much private lives. Goodbye to everybody. to publish, we consider content (including misstatements of fact, Mrs. Leah Silverstein libel, innuendo, ridicule of individuals or the institution, personal attacks, and redundancy) and length (the limit is 600 words). Formerly a member of the Central and Eastern European Languages Cataloging Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work and Team, of the former Social Sciences Cataloging Division. telephone extension should be included so we can verify author- ship. Letter writers should understand that when they sign their letters and release them to us for publication they are relinquishing privacy. If a letter calls for management response, for example, an explanation of a policy or actions or clarification of fact, we JOB HELP WORKSHOP Force Development, will lead the will ask for management response.—Ed., MtM workshop. “Developing Your Individual Development Plan” Seats are limited; RSVP to dflo@loc. gov or call 7-4529. Gazette Deadlines Noon, Thursday, March 26 Mumford Room, LM 649 The Library of Congress Chapter The deadline for editorial copy for the March of Blacks in Government (BIG) is 27 Gazette is Wednesday, March 18. Participants will: presenting this workshop. E-mail editorial copy and letters to the editor n to [email protected]. Get an introduction on creating an The Library chapter also will begin Individual Development Plan (IDP) To promote events through the Library’s its membership drive with tables for online calendar (www.loc.gov/loc/events) n Identify the role the IDP plays in career sign-ups from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Gazette Calendar, e-mail event and development on Tuesday, March 24, outside of contact information to [email protected] by n Learn how to create an effective IDP Madison snack bar.