Fw: ERIC Clearinghouses Threatened

[Alkistis Fleischer]

----- Original Message -----
>
> Dear IEP Listserve Members & Other Colleagues,
>
> Please note the following message from John Segota, TESOL
> advocacy director regarding the Bush administration's plan to
> decimate an extremely valuable set of resources that some of us
> rely on regularly--the ERIC clearinghouses.  Please read the
> message below and then take action on it.  I wonder if it might be
> beneficial to take action as departments to ensure that we are
> heard collectively.
>
> From: John Segota
> To: "TESOL USA Advocacy E-list"
> Subject: [advocacy-usa] FW: ACTION ALERT: ERIC
> Clearinghouses on the
> Chopping Block!
> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 09:58:46 -0400
>
>
> ACTION ALERT: ERIC Clearinghouses on the Chopping Block!
>
> The U.S. Department of Education has issued a draft plan for a
> "New ERIC" system. Unless this plan is modified, all 16
> Clearinghouses and their services will be eliminated and there will
> be a dramatic change in the content of the ERIC database. The
> public has an opportunity to comment until May 9, 2003.
>
> The plan for the "New ERIC" makes the following changes:
>
> * Closes all 16 ERIC Clearinghouses
> * Eliminates personalized reference and referral services
> * Terminates AskERIC and clearinghouse question-answering
> services
> * Ends all networking and outreach activities, including
> ERIC-sponsored Listservs
> * Shuts down Clearinghouse Web sites currently visited by 22.5
> million unique visitors a year
> * Eliminates ERIC Digests, books, and other synthesis
> publications
> * Reduces coverage of the journal literature from 1100 journals to
> an estimated 400
> * Restricts consumer access to information, limiting ERIC database
> coverage to "approved lists" of journals and document contributors
>
> There is still time to change it!
>
> If the proposed changes do not reflect your vision of ERIC, ask
> Secretary Paige and your legislators to change their plan to include
> all 16 ERIC Clearinghouses with their information services and user-
> friendly products and Web sites; and to continue comprehensive
> coverage of the education literature. Please make your views
> known by May 9 to:
>
> Secretary of Education Rod Paige
> Fax: 202-401-0596 (on letterhead. please)
> Email: Rod.Paige at ed.gov
>
> Your State's Senators:
> http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cf
> m
>
> Your Congressional Representative:
> http://www.house.gov/writerep/
>
> For additional up-to-date information on ERIC, please visit:
> ERIC Reauthorization News
> http://www.lib.msu.edu/corby/education/doe.htm
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>