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APPENDIX C
Initial Web Survey Results--
Open-Ended Responses
Initial Web Survey Results-- · Expertise & knowledge of individual agency staff member (2)
Open-Ended Response · Web search. Online resources (2)
· Listservs, blogs (3)
Open-ended responses to the web survey are listed below. · E-newsletters from professional organizations & vendors
See Appendix B for the full survey instrument. (for standards & specifications)
Similar responses were grouped into single line items with · Web-based news, alert services, press releases
a number in parentheses following the response to indicate · PUSH generated library links--to RSS Feed, Library Tips
how many respondents provided this answer. Responses for (biweekly) New Book Link
questions 8, 10, and 11 were grouped into categories to facil- · Blurbs and e-mails from established vendors
itate analysis of the results.
Question 3. (for Librarians) What are the primary infor- Question 4. (For Librarians) - When your customers are
mation sources that you use to help your customers keep up looking for transportation-related data sets (national, state,
with the latest developments in their area(s) of expertise, or or local), what sources do you most frequently use?
topic area?
· Union catalogs, local or library catalog/OCLC/Worldcat (6)
· DOT and TRB Search Tools (TRIS/TRIS Integrated Search, · TRIS/TLCat (4)
RIP, NTL (8) · NTL online/NTL Catalog (3)
· DOT or FHWA websites (2) · BTS/Transtats (7)
· TRB publications/TRR (3) · FHWA, USDOT, FAA (2)
· TRB Transportation Research E-Newsletter (2) · FHWA Highway Statistics (3)
· library catalog (3) · National Transportation Statistics (2)
· WorldCat · FedStats
· University Consortium of lib catalogs, databases and elec- · National Transit Database
tronic journals · US Census
· AASHTO updates and journal · National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National
· Web of Science Center for Statistics and Analysis publications
· Acqweb · Engineering Index
· Hard copy or electronic journals or conference proceed- · TRANSPORT, DIALOG, Other transportation databases (3)
ings (5) · Other Transportation Library resources--bibliographies
· Federal Register or webliographies
· Proprietary databases Factiva, DIALOG (6) · TRB/TRR online (2)
· Planning project, and construction documents (2) · TRB/Research in Progress
· Technical, research reports, annual reports (3) · Internet/web search/websites (4)
· National and local news articles · Content databases on Internet
· Google Transportation Meta Search · Listservs (2)
· Publication announcements from DOTs, etc. · Federal Resources online
57
· Local Crash Facts · Public marine transportation info. It is almost always faster
· ASTM pubs to contact a similar agency than look for papers/research
· ASCE journals · Standards and statistics from other countries
· USA.gov · Both the most current and historical research on trans-
· State demographic center portation related topics including engineering, planning,
· Internal agency resources (databases, reports, raw data) ( 4) design, construction, and current research in progress
· GIS applications · Statistical information
· Personal contacts, expertise & knowledge of a staff · Standards that cost a lot of money, and books from private
member (2) companies like ASTM, AISC, NEC, and so on. . . .
· Detailed airline statistics, personal travel data, comprehen-
Question 5. (For Librarians) What kinds of transportation- sive source of state regulations/laws
related information do your customers seek that you find · Commodity flow point to point data
most difficult or time consuming to provide? · Particular views of data sets
· Legislative/funding information, at state and local level
· Gray literature, unpublished information, foreign publica- · Legislative requests
tions. Obtaining materials referenced in publications that · Research that is multidisciplinary and not specifically
can't be verified or have no holdings in OCLC. Historical related to transportation engineering, for example, trans-
information to explain the reasoning behind why a test portation economics, or recently . . . looking for food miles
method (for example) was changed at a given time. and transportation costs,
· A specific historical question, often environmental, that · 1) As a state DOT, I get many requests to acquire internal
involves construction plans and maps. data from other DOTs on various topics. This can be very
· Freight data - specific costs to move a specific commodity difficult to do. 2) Historical statistical data, especially in
from origin to destination. Cost of pollution from passen- the motor vehicle arena (such as registrations, etc.) to try
ger vehicles, trucks, public transit. Information regarding and answer specific questions about patterns of vehicle
specific details of construction of given highway or seg- ownership (for example, was there an increase in young
ment of highway, and costs associated with freeway con- female drivers for the time period of 1955-1965, etc.)
struction in general. 3) Internal information from other state and federal govern-
· Current statistics because most are 1-2 years old, if not ment agencies, such as budget data. 4) Transportation his-
older. tory questions can be time-consuming, especially when they
· It isn't the information that they seek, but the time con- involve something like what kind of pavement was used on
straints that causes difficulty. a certain segment of road in 1945, etc.? Related to this are
· Any kind of search where the patron doesn't really know questions about traffic accidents in years past (i.e., who
how to use information sources or what she is looking for investigated, what were the outcomes, etc.). Basically, these
and doesn't know how to comb through a result list; this are archival and institutional memory-type questions, and
addresses a lack of training in staying current in a field. our coverage of such information is spotty, at best (which
There is a minor education department at this DOT but it includes both our state DOT and state historical society)
doesn't offer credit and is used only for upgrade in super- · Searches for known, but ill-described publications from
visory levels. Although there is acknowledgment of the USDOT and state DOTs, especially those without library
importance of training, it usually concerns new software services (i.e., "a couple years back FHWA or somebody did
being introduced to the DOT. I see a very large need for crit- a study on maintenance vehicle visibility"). Searches for
ical thinking and problem solving courses or workshops. what other state DOTs are currently doing on any given
I know I need to be part of training of this type in new topic (i.e., electronic signatures, utility permit manage-
information sources available to transportation, but we are ment, innovative finance, etc.)
understaffed to do this in a solo library. I think that there · Evolving and emerging "best practices" information, typi-
would be a huge benefit to employee exchange among cally, what are other state DOTs doing in one technical area
transportation organizations to learn best practices. Benefits or another. Often defies utility of typical transportation
for long-term employment here encourage mediocrity and info sources because the literature has not yet been pub-
risk-averse thinking; there is a very little risk-taking and lished, and when it is, it is grey lit and not well dissemi-
most DOTs move slowly and carefully. I would like to see nated, collected and cataloged.
acknowledgment of true life-long learning in critical thinking, · Statistics--data on other transit agency staffing and
not just new software. operations--older EISs and planning documents, especially
· State-specific Commodity-specific when the name of the project changes over time
58
Question 7. (Non-Librarians) When you are looking for · State DOT research (3)
transportation-related data sets (national, state, or local), · MPO
what sources do you most frequently use? · Port-generated info
· Economic Development sites
· US DOT · WestStart
· FHWA/FHWA website (15) · University-generated info
· FHWA HMPS (2) · Engineering Drawings
· FHWA NBI · Crash Records Database/Crash Reports (3)
· FHWA Truck Weight Study · Reports by local agencies
· FHWA Highway Statistics (3) · Pooled fund studies
· FHWA Resource Center · On-line community of practice (ex. FHWA Highway
· FHWA Safety webpage Community Exchange)
· FHWA Traffic Volume Trends · State DOTs/State DOT web pages (4)
· FHWA (State Division Office) · University website (2)
· FHWA staff · MadCat (university catalog)
· FTA National Transit Database, Reporting Summaries (5) · General web research/Internet (33)
· BTS (11) · Internet-specific sites (14)
· JPO's Lessons Learned Database · Google alerts
· Volpe Center Library · Several key state and Federal data archives
· NPTS/NHTS (2) · E-Mail Newsletters/Discussion Lists
· LTPP (2) · E-mail (2)
· NHTSA/Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) (3) · Meetings and Conferences (2)
· US Census CTPP, PUMS, American Community · Discussions with colleagues, contacts, peers(23)
Survey (6) · Other ferry organizations
· Transearch, CFS, VIUS [freight data] · Contact Local University/Professors, UTC Faculty (3)
· Federal agency web pages · University of Missouri Extension
· TRB/TRR/NCHRP (22)
· RIP Database (5) Question 8. (Non-Librarians) If you had a full time per-
· TRIS Online (26) sonal assistant whose job was to provide you with the infor-
· National Transportation Library (4) mation you need to be effective, name three tasks you would
· State DOT Search Engine (2) have given them in the last month.
· AASHTO
[Responses have been organized by type of task and topic
· WorldCat (2)
area]
· Agency Library/Library Staff (20)
· UC Davis Pavement Research Center Filter, Synthesize and Disseminate Information
· California TASAS
· Lit search · Collect reading / developments in general trans. Issues and
· Eurostat use this information to identify projects/issues of concern
· LTAP Clearinghouse/LTAP Center websites (2) to our DOT
· AASHTO, Committee Surveys (7) · Provide News About Transportation Decisions/Trends
· APWA · Prepare a weekly e-mail with abstracts of 3-5 key reports/
· APTA (2) articles, with links to full reports/further information, for
· NACTO circulation to an internal distribution list
· IMSA · Search for national info - scan and sort for utility
· NCSL · Evaluate regional info for utility
· IHS · Review and summarize articles of interest from journals/
· ATSI newsletters (print, online, e-mail)
· PTI · Summarize recent reports
· Publications/magazines/journals (9) · Review Community of Practice website at FHWA for inter-
· Textbooks esting items
· Agency internal data--e.g., truck counts, traffic counts, · Gather/provide executive summaries of new research
collision, inventory, transit, GIS library, data marts (17) reports/analyses from reliable sources, on topics relevant to
59
our agency's operations and planning (both transit and · Ramps design
highway) · Cable anchoring systems
· Review incoming e-mail newsletters, etc. for distribution · Synthesis on orthotropic bridge deck overlays
to DOT employees · Types of accelerated construction methods that work
· Condense latest information · Maintenance management
· Read germane journals/reports articles and summarize · DOT Maintenance Contracting
for me · Coordination of Transportation Services
· Research and prepare fact sheets/summaries for upcoming · Develop a matrix of performance measures
meetings and events. · Derivation of travel time from speed detectors
· Monitor print publications · Earthquake Incident Preparedness
· Newly published relevant literature · Intelligent Transportation
· Update or monitor communities of practice · Quality of Transit Initiatives
· Prepare short synthesis reports on specific topics · Find the latest Research on fish passage
· Browse latest research and write brief report · Find the latest Research on creating wetlands habitat
· New Product Scan · Recent articles on congestion pricing
· Stay abreast of all new technologies in the field of trans- · Search for latest developments in converting HOV to HOT
portation and research lanes
· National investments in ITS
Research and Analysis, Literature Reviews (General) · Number of traffic signals in the US
· Find Reference Information · Effective Road Safety Enforcement
· Research specific topics and options and collate results · Researching best practices for snow AVL operations
· Market trends · Compile latest traveler information resources
· Strategic plan research and development · Compile latest congestion related resources
· Proposal research and development · Pull all relevant research related to multimodal transporta-
· Research data needs tion issues
· · Recent articles on land use-infrastructure "concurrency"
Contact respective research organizations for input on
· I needed to know a lot of background information on
their results
· Literature searches (10) billboards
· · Literature review for forward deflection structural condi-
Literature search to ensure research proposed is not
duplicated tion index
· Driver Behavior
· Literature searches for inquiry requests
· Find body of research on Bioengineering
· Review/Search TRIS (2)
· Research dynamic cone penetrometer applications and ac-
· Internet searches (4)
· Prepare summary of search tual state specifications
· Find me information about TSP2
· Scan web for related info
· Verify TRIS search with Google Research and Analysis, Literature Reviews - Information
· Search for latest research in areas I have projects Technology/Applications
· Most current information on a subject
· Search for projects/research in progress · Researching IT Asset Management Systems
· Research best practices (2) · IT system research for software server configuration for
· Identify Performance Benchmarks in certain areas particular application
· Case studies · Research digital signature in our state
Research and Analysis, Literature Review (Specific Topics) · Researching Online Work Order management systems
· Compare and contrast various document mgmt systems
· Research modal trends in U.S. - China trade in use
· Research Info - future transportation funding · Gather info. on creation of web-based databases
· Research recent land sales · Finding and implementing a search system for the com-
· Search for latest developments in Automated Speed Enforce- pany's reports
ment · Provide information about technology
· Safety (3) · Identify elements of a prototype project office for docu-
· Work zone safety ment management
60
Research and Analysis, Literature Reviews Financial Info · Use NTD to examine trends in several specific factors affect-
ing transit productivity
· State-by-state comparison of highway construction $ · Hot Mix Asphalt density in relation to performance
· Identify best practice for revenue projections · Build asset inventories - locate specific features
· Prepare spending projections based on spending history · Request and assemble detailed daily ridership data from
for our unit vanpool operators
· Track all financial expenditures by BTS · Write VB code necessary to analyze traffic temporal data
from class counts and TMC
Research and Analysis, Literature Reviews - Equipment · What is the history of pavement distress on test projects
Information before and after construction
· Use PUMS data of the Consumer Expenditure Survey to
· Find online manuals for our test equipment examine relationships between household transportation
· Price equipment expenditures and vehicle ownership and other households
· Contact equipment suppliers · Develop our travel trends report for my review
· Prepare reports that compare 3 previous forecast series
Research and Analysis, Literature Reviews - Workforce from the same vendor
Issues
Collect, Catalog and Archive Information Resources
· Comparison of Pay Scales for Engineers for surrounding
· Inventory Data Sources
states
· · Find descriptive information on transportation datasets
Succession planning data
· Research internal data files and resources
· Ways to recruit engineers from schools
· Download new reports to CD/DVD to add to library col-
· Research position classification comparisons between
agencies/states lection
· Catalog info
· Training opportunities for staff in range of topics in trans-
portation planning
Specifications and Practices from Peer Agencies
Data Collection & Analysis - General
· Query other DOT specifications
· Call other states on specific issues for past practice
· Analyze & Report on Internal Data (2)
· Review of best practices used in information/report dis-
· Exploratory data analysis
semination
· Merge many data points into simple presentation
· Call state agency staff
· Collect data from wherever needed
· Call 5 state DOTs and ask them how they update their high-
· Compile data into a database
way inventory
· Collate survey results · Find me information on how frequently each state DOT
· Extract Data from Datamart and provide me a spreadsheet collects pavement condition data
of current data
· Data for research efforts
Legislative/Regulatory/Legal
Data Collection & Analysis Specific Topics · Track legislative requirements
· Track legislative proposals that impact transportation
· Collect traffic data from work zones funding, particularly BTS
· Research border crossing trends · Translation of Federal Regulations
· Search through construction records for information on · Outline SAFETEA-LU statewide planning requirements
specific state projects · Legal questions
· Truck traffic on selected highways
· Crash data Identify Expertise
· Climate data for selected sites
· Keep current on all economic data stats · Develop and maintain a list of key organizations and indi-
· Cost data viduals conducting transportation (transit and highway)
· Gather transportation emissions data research/analysis, including contact information and links
· Develop national and international ferry-related data base to websites
61
· Identify researchers on certain topics One-Stop Shopping/Web Site/Search Tools
· Develop/maintain contacts of peers for our technical area
in other DOTs · Establishing a comprehensive Internet site that houses all
the information with good search tools.
Compile and Organize Information · A national transportation website that indexes sources of
transportation information by categories and sub categories.
· Organize paper/e-mails into subject files · A national, web-based clearinghouse of reports, data, and
· Organize existing files other information from reliable sources (official, refereed,
· Clean and file my office stacks that are unfiled from meetings etc.), supplemented by a listserv function broken down by
· Organizing shelves with reports and other reference material topic areas (not geography). This would help ensure that
· Create desktop shortcuts for all reports useful research and information reach a wide audience of
· Compile data into a report interested practitioners and researchers, and also facilitate
· Compile results of survey into information sheets for Upper proactive research efforts by organizations with limited staff.
Management · National clearinghouse for data/information
· Create a contracts and agreements database · More single-stop shopping like BTS provides via National
· Create databases for information that is internal to the Transportation Library
organization so that it can be better utilized · That narrative, tabular and geospatial data, photographs
· Document and summarize processes are all retrievable through one portal.
· · Combining all the information access into one website.
Database input of reports/newsletters/tech briefs rec'd
· Download financial data from the agency's accounting There are so many researchers doing research on the same
system topics. With having one main website, it would be easier to
keep track.
· An excellent national transportation information portal
Funding Opportunities
that would point to all types of information, not just web-
· Collect information on research funding sources from other
sites or electronic documents.
· A quick "google-like" search tool for transportation-related
than transportation agencies
searches
· Funding Opportunities
· Make searching the TRB and AASHTO websites user
· Review and search for other grant opportunities
friendly. To find something on TRB I go to Google; it's much
· Search for possible request for proposals and reports that
faster and much more accurate.
relate to interested research of our organization
· Having a centralized resource center to search for and
· Upcoming requests for proposals
retrieve information (one stop shopping).
· Transportation-specific search tools.
Project Tracking and Evaluation · Comprehensive search engine
· Better on-line search tools relating to transportation.
· Status of all SPR Research Projects
· Expanded keyword search capability
· Current Research projects underway
· Improved search engines
· Determine the BCR of our recently completed research · Central resource for international, national, state and local
projects. information.
· On-line transportation-related search engines that are con-
Summarize and Communicate nected nationally.
· Search engine that provides decent summaries
· Manage dissemination of publication from my center · To be able to electronically search and access all trans-
· Provide synopses of our organization's research reports portation-related documents produced by public agencies
· Prepare summary report at the local, state, and federal government levels
· Disseminate information to users · Easy to use, standard, Search Strategy with simple How to
· Provide information to others Use instructions. State Content Clearly, Description &
· News for specific website such as fuel cell Management upfront. Marketing format choices help
· Collate department websites and information resources · Easier searching - data gathered and organized in sets or
into an information portal topics - newest info first - links to related topics or articles
in browser
Question 10. What improvements in transportation infor- · OPAC access to grey lit Centralized web portals for regional
mation access would be of greatest value to you? or topical access to sources (well designed and maintained)
62
· Some national website that would simply have links to a Transportation Data Dissemination
multitude of research links. This website would simply be a
site that those interested could go to to find a link. The rea- · Development of a tool at the federal level that all states
son for this is now I save a website on my "favorites" list that would use for collecting, reporting and analyzing data.
now I have so many favorites that it can be difficult to search. · More tailored data sets that can be linked. I do not want or
· Better coordination. A one-stop-shop of information need to wade through everything within transportation
would be best. but would like to share some central information from a
· Consolidating all transportation information into a one-stop more localized set of information
shopping resource, a la OCLC WorldCat. Currently there are · Identification of data needed to make decisions and avail-
lots of overlapping resources whose missions and purposes able data - to identify the gaps in data needed and system-
seem similar, resulting in confusion for the researcher. atic approach/plan to fill gaps.
· Publicize the availability of TRIS and insist that it be used by · A data search engine similar to Google that reviews all trans-
all transportation research organizations or do away with portation data sources, including international, Federal,
TRIS in favor of one, single comprehensive repository for all state, and university data bases.
transportation research done or in progress. Access should · Data clearhouse concepts for: - safety, traffic operations,
be provided to a title/topic, a synopsis and a total, searchable maintenance, etc.
· Make local, state, and national time series data accessible
document with an automatic link to the document at the
original research source/organization. with query tools.
· More data accessible on-line, more coordination of data
Value-Added Services to Filter, Organize and Integrate between jurisdictions. More GIS data
· Central information source with staffing to assist in locat-
Information
ing info
· Better and more current data on highway crashes, causa-
· Prioritizing available information. Outdated and unsub-
tion, purpose of trip, etc.
stantiated information is of little value yet is listed on most
· A well-designed database with good data-mining tools.
search sites along side the latest available research and indus-
· Improved data on transportation costs and benefits
try best practices.
· Access to archived traffic data from prior research activities
· The biggest problem we face is information assessment.
· When data is available, make it software independent, i.e.
Available information varies dramatically in quality. In
comma delimited with appropriate documentation.
addition, the transportation literature is enormous, and rel-
atively easy to access, but the sheer volume makes effective Best Practice and Support for Peer to Peer Knowledge
assimilation of information impractical. We need more and Sharing
better peer review and assessment of transportation infor-
mation, especially for information available on the Internet. · Topic-specific searches of best practices and people to con-
· Scanning and sorting and evaluating information so I receive tact with experience in a particular subject.
useful information, not reams of it · The social networking sites (especially for DOT contacts in
· Develop more targeted information for each sector. There specific technical areas) would be most useful.
is so much information, it's an overload. · Collaboration and sharing of knowledge.
· Develop specific topic area clearinghouses · An active social networking site where my questions would
· Expand and centralize access to blurbs and short syntheses be answered in a timely fashion; where I could go to keep
of information about transportation topics. Currently, TRB, my finger on the pulse of what is happening in state DOTs.
WI, AZ and VA are creating this type of content but it would · Building national site to include knowledge sharing among
be very useful to have more with access to all and with key- transit's front line staff/blue collar workers
word searching from one website. · Building a collaboration or social networking web site for
· A comprehensive listing of citations for programs that are transportation practitioners- as posted in question above.
known by certain brief names, i.e., Section IX, 401(f). But, in considering the above there are already a number
· The e-mail subscription services such as the TRB Trans- of similar networks that I don't use now. Unsure of what is
portation Research E-Newsletter have been very useful in needed.
trying to keep up with information as it comes in.
· Listing of sources, web page links Information Capture, Cataloging and Archiving
· Comprehensive directories and glossaries
· The ability to access a common group of functionalities · Funding to support a 5-10 year collaborative effort in acqui-
across public rail transportation sitions, cataloging, access and digital preservation. TRISNet
63
for the 21st century - an effective means for every state DOT, · Establishing a national transportation information archive
FHWA, research centers, etc. to disseminate copies of their to preserve and provide stable access to both print and
research reports to interested parties. National transporta- electronic documents
tion archive for long-term access and preservation for print · An easy system for agencies to provide their information.
and digital documents The value of TKN is limited to the information provided.
· Having an improved ability to search transportation refer- · Electronic access to documents - at no charge. Information
ences would have the greatest value. However, I don't changes rapidly so digitizing all old documents would not
think the issue is as much that search tools need improve- be a very effective use of funds.
ment as it is that there is a lack of resources to digitize doc- · Transportation Archive Access to that data
uments, tag their metadata, and encourage agencies to · Better bibliographic description and control of transporta-
share their library resources. tion literature
· If every organization would catalog their own publications · Long term preservation of digital and print resources. Seed
into a library catalog (OCLC preferred). Standard language money to improve networking and cooperative planning.
would be used to organize all types of information resources · Knowing where to search for information and having
(complete with synonyms for a user friendly face). Federal information cataloged for easy search
transportation libraries would stabilize and actually collect
USDOT publications so that they are findable within the Digitizing & Links to Electronic Documents
transportation community long term. Topical access tools
are improved (made more robust, more easily findable) · Our patrons want more on-line access to reference mat-
· Knowing that state and federal (and university, where affil- erials, so digitizing projects would be the greatest value.
iated) digital documents will be permanently archived and · Digitized/web documents
retrievable at no cost. Many of us have limited physical · Greater digitization of documents
space. I'd like to see regional coordination on collections · It has to exist digitally for you to access it
for certain categories of documents - not everyone needs · Requiring state and federal transportation agencies to dig-
to keep superseded AASHTO administrative manuals (for itize all current and historic collections, archiving them
example) - perhaps certain libraries could agree to hold and making them available in Google for posterity.
specific collections of infrequently used titles. More partic- · I am seeing more and more full online documents that can
ipants in OCLC group LSTR for no-cost resource sharing. be downloaded free of charge. This is really helpful and
Getting local holdings into TRIS. In our state, we have state saves a great deal of time. Improved search capability of
DOT reports that aren't in TRIS. If a searcher uses TRIS state info would be helpful too. Many are in TRIS with
and not TLCat, they may miss a number of older reports. links. Don't know if it is possible to have a separate search
· Improved uploading of research results robot check all state sites in a search.
· Improving the information pipeline doesn't mean a lot if · Simply put, having access to information easily and
there is nothing useful being produced to put in it. Those quickly. Electronic documents are a must.
with the time and motivation to produce informational · 1) I believe there is a great amount of grey literature that
documents are rarely those who are actually developing would be valuable to the transportation community. A
innovations or doing the work. Those who are doing the campaign to convince them that the reports in their files
work seldom have the time to document their knowledge are valuable might help make this information more read-
or hard-earned learnings. Internships ought to be devel- ily available. 2) I believe that the community needs more in-
oped whereby students could work with practitioners and depth indexing of its literature: something more detailed
have the time to document their knowledge. Then the than item level description (for books and reports) and
pipeline could be filled with useful product. that would bring material on the same subject together
· Creating the transportation equivalent system to the NLM more effectively than Google.
Medline database. Currently, TRIS does not cover the · Access to existing research that doesn't exist in sharable,
breadth and depth of the transportation field that Medline electronic format.
covers in medicine. Also the quality of records in the Med-
line is far superior to TRIS. Medline has very few duplicate Coordination & Standards for Information Sharing
or incomplete data records whereas TRIS has so many that
it's almost funny. TRIS should be expanded to include not · An information sharing technical and human infrastruc-
only gov't supported research, but transportation related ture.
articles and materials from a broad range of commercial · National coordination with a working method to ensure
publishers as well. timely input of information.
64
· Sharing of electronic documents policies, procedures, our peers do it . . . There is a vast amount of transportation
business plans, manuals, guidance documents, etc. research information that would be of great value if brought
· Each state DOT should have up-to-date websites. AASHTO under bibliographic control. It is not hard to do, but due to
or TRB should provide service to state DOT's for sharing its specialized nature, if we don't do it nobody will. Unfor-
information. tunately there are not enough transportation libraries. Of
· Greater integration among state DOTs and USDOT those, not enough have staff with the competencies required
· I strongly believe information exists but needs to be stan- to do modern librarianship right. Most barely have a staff at
dardized. all . . . and typically they are paraprofessionals or people
· Standardization with barely any library background. Most of these libraries
· Getting agreement on standards for transportation infor- barely have a budget, facilities, or resources at all to speak
mation sharing of . . . all the more reason why a non-biased (non-pooled
fund) national coordinating body could dramatically
Building Awareness of Existing Information Sources advance the state of the practice by getting these small shops
(Including Librarians) to work together to defray costs and expand their collective
access to information and research. Other sectors figured
· Improved awareness of currently available tools & resources.
this out long ago. The time for platitudes and excuses has
come to an end. This is about smart business. What is stop-
· As a solo librarian, everything I do must be geared toward
ping transportation?
enabling my patrons to find or know how to use informa-
· Money for cooperation (which will lead to development of
tion themselves. This would include tutorials on using
standards, cooperative projects to produce better in-house
databases or the OPAC using new technology like screen-
and regional library services, and other improvements)--
casting; or continually updated powerpoints that are pub-
preserving historic materials--one place to locate books,
licly available describing new library resources. We are
data, and article research Of course, many of our problems
dependent on networks and the assistance of other libraries
stem directly from lack of funding. Appropriate funding
who have already created bibliographies. DOT patrons are would enable myself (as a solo DOT Library) to secure
independent and don't want to attend classes; anything subscriptions to the expensive, but peer-reviewed trans-
that we can give them that helps them help themselves is portation research (journal articles, etc.) that my customers
what they want, although they are no different in this regard demand. Related to this is access to statistical data, espe-
than college students or users of other digital libraries. cially demographic via database subscriptions. Funding
I would like to offer a type of electronic reserves for the would also help digitize documents and ultimately create
management classes but the education department here is better access to them for transportation customers. Also,
not aware of e-reserves. being able to gather information from other state DOTs on
· Convince people that professionals (i.e., librarians) can a more consistent basis would be very helpful. I get many
find more than I can on my own requests that start with the phrase "What are other DOTs
doing in such and such area?" In our own organization, we
Funding and Support for Library Services and Networks need a better effort to access our own data that is not nec-
essarily in a traditional published (library) format. Speci-
· A national transportation library that is funded commen- fically, archival materials such as correspondence, draft
surate with the transportation industry's contribution to reports, speeches, presentations, photographs, and the
the nation's economy knowledge from key, but recently retired employees too
· Providing better in-house services to practitioners (with often slips through the cracks and is gone forever. We need
financial support.) to do a better job of capturing this nontraditional type of
· Helping other transportation libraries help themselves and information dissemination.
each other. If each was willing to collect, catalog, and pro- · Establishing national collection development plans that are
vide collective access to nothing more than their own hold- collaborative, with funding for international materials and
ings (i.e., those originating from their state, mode, or area of journals. Selecting and using standards for preservation of
expertise), then collectively the whole would be far greater physical and digital collections. Subsidies for services--
than the sum of its parts. As it stands these libraries, relative interlibrary loans, training for library staff information
to their peers in even the least developed sectors, are in an users. Preservation of existing collections, physical and
appalling state of arrested development. This is not about digital. Mechanism and funding for collecting and preserv-
technology or about standards. Those got figured out ing materials, including realia. Establish a "flagship" library
decades ago. It is also not about "marketing the value" or that sets direction and guidance for the US transportation
building a better bookmark. It is about doing the job the way community.
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· Expanding the identification, cataloging and preservation well funded NTL, we also need to expand the thought that
of transportation information resources at point of pro- information is under the sole purview of libraries. So, 1.
duction. Providing within each transportation organization Build and strong NTL that is well funded. 2. Expand defi-
at least one staff member with knowledge of transporta- nitions and make sure the scope of this project, TKNs, etc.
tion information production, distribution, and description extends beyond libraries.
with the resources needed to share information about the · Transportation Information has to be EZ to look-up and
resources with a national network and provide access on an EZ to understand even for a 6 year old. I know that is not
as-needed basis. so EZ to do.
· We currently are fortunate enough to have a very good · Readily available information via Internet
transportation library in California and excellent resources · Improved access via Internet.
available through the university catalog MELVYL. If there
were more resources available to enhance the services pro- Question 11. Please use the space below to provide any
vided by these organizations it would increase their value. other comments that you would like to see considered in the
business plan for implementing Transportation Knowledge
Free/Low Cost Access to Information Networks.
· Free access to journals and other published sources of
Comments about TKN Organization, Products and
information Services
· Access to things I cannot afford
· Affordable electronic sources and licensing of same to allow
· Would like for the NTL to provide leadership in helping
direct end-user access
establish regional TKNs and perhaps providing some seed
money for initial meetings.
Other
· Careful consideration needs to be given to the organiza-
· Let the UTC National Centers be the catalyst for providing
tional structure of the oversight committees. Ideally one-,
two-, or three-tier organizational structure with representa-
these services for information access.
· TRB is on the right track but they need more funding to
tives from the primary user communities can be established
so everyone works together for the common good without
provide comprehensive services. One central source would
excessive duplication of effort.
be the most economical method but making membership
· A user advisory board(s) should be established to make
affordable would likely be a problem.
·
sure needs continue to be met.
Latest technology information availability
· Build on the existing network of transportation libraries
· Integrating administrative support organizations with the
project management efforts. and the services that these provide.
· Continue efforts in connecting all transported related
· I wouldn't be surprised if a carefully prepared survey revealed
that the most helpful information would be a better know- libraries electronically thru the web.
· Have up to date contact information about research in
ledge of what's going on in our own organizations.
· Networking with others--and not just via the Internet or progress
e-mail · Knowledge Network should go beyond libraries and include
· Our librarian has moved us forward, and as we use her so other stakeholder of information.
much, access is less of an issue to me · It is easy to give away money to start libraries and websites,
· An assistant to monitor and report on developments but can not be sustained unless there is continued support
· Improving communication between various research groups. from respective agency top managers. Involving right per-
· More translations of European research reports. sons in the plan would be the first and important step. Con-
· International Research Documents Translation to English sider having some transportation managers with technical
and available from a national service background and an MBA.
· A more user friendly Manual on Uniform Traffic Control · Targeting top state government transportation managers
Devices to convey how important in-house library services and
· Ferry information is currently not included - we need this transportation knowledge networks are to staff in perform-
to learn best practices - we need international and national ing their work. Many state DOT libraries have been closed
ferry information on all aspects of ferry transportation. because of the misconception by top management that all
· The focus seems to be on libraries. Transportation includes information is "easily" accessed through the web.
information beyond libraries, such as data, records, etc. · I would like to see some flexibility in membership rules -
These groups need help as well. While we need a strong and there is no one size fits all for transportation libraries. Many
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of the membership rules being proposed are not going to · The option from Question #9 "Developing a marketing cam-
work for us. paign to build awareness of the need for each organization
· Recognition that participation by already overwhelmed to commit resources for information sharing" is very impor-
librarians (many of whom are solo practitioners) requires tant. Getting organizations to commit resources will ensure
support at a high level to allow attendance at meetings, long term support and a better payoff from these activities.
time to devote to TKN efforts, etc. Support that is both The options to provide seed funding or grants with a limited
financial and organizational, at local and higher levels. time duration run a high risk of leaving users high and dry
· Points of access to any national transportation informa- if no agency picks the service up for the long term.
tion resources network need to be distributed to be as · Training, education and marketing of the tools available
close to the practitioner as possible. Availability of these and value of TKN is needed.
points of access need to be marketed as broadly as possi- · 1) The plan needs to retain the "origination credit" for the
ble. Practitioners need to know efforts are being made to organization that created the research while making that
provide local access to a nationwide network that can research available as broadly as possible; i.e., a click on the
deliver what is needed when it is needed. "Think globally, document or pages printed should be automatically
ask locally?" credited to the research originating organization to show
· Make participants in a national network accountable for the use/interest in the subject to guide further research.
results. Drop the regional focus. This country needs to get 2) Inquiries regarding the research should be automati-
transportation information figured out . . . and that's far cally routed to the research originator to answer. 3) The
more important than the egos in the Midwest. Encourage service should be free to avoid any hesitancy by potential
the most proficient transportation libraries to act as "big users. 4) Numeric trends toward the use of topics solicited
brothers" and "big sisters" to other libraries, especially in by inquirers should be available to all users to assist with
regards to setting policy, best practices, and training. Use research needs assessments. 5) Apparent plagiarism should
OCLC . . . and leverage that investment by using it fully (cat- be tactfully identified to both the offender and offendee. Etc.
aloging, training, resource sharing, colab collect dev., digital · Emphasis on the need for trained library and information
ref.). Negotiate discounted group rates with OCLC and
professionals as key to connecting people with the informa-
other vendors. Find a way to provide clear leadership. With
tion they need. Importance of accurate and complete cata-
the MTKN, the pooled fund, the NTL . . . it's all just too
loging of materials as key to access to collections. Necessity
confusing. Why does transportation make something that is
of quality search tools as key to retrieval of information.
essentially easy and turn it so difficult? We're making things
Again, a consolidated one-stop shopping source for trans-
way more difficult than they need to be . . .
·
portation info and materials, a la WorldCat.
Centralizing rather than regionalizing to produce one stop
· Basically, as a state DOT librarian, I would like to impress
shopping. We look nationwide for resources.
· Strengthen the National Transportation Library's role as the point that information requests are often atypical of a
networking leader, collection collaboration leader, data traditional academic or public library. Our customers are
quality leader. looking for information, and do not really care whether it
· I hope this plan enables libraries to play a more central role comes from a published research report, a piece of corre-
in the distribution of transportation information, particu- spondence, from a spreadsheet on someone's hard drive, on
larly from the federal level. the back of a photograph, or from an expert's personal
· Personally, I think such all-too-common tasks in efforts like notes. Librarians need more support in becoming more
this such as "creating a marketing campaign" or "having a than a traditional library. They need to be established as
kick-off conference" represent a total waste of money. Most a central information hub, for all types of information
transportation professionals know the places they need to go requests. The library in a state DOT needs the support to be
for information; the problem is, many times the informa- the first place an information seeker goes to, instead of
tion is incomplete or otherwise unavailable. Spend your dol- being the last resort. This support can be through a visible
lars on the data itself -- not on "fluff". location in the building, ample space for their resources, as
· I do not like to see funds used on bureaucratic standardiz- well as support to subscribe to key electronic resources.
ing (pdfs are fine) and training. The web is simple to search The librarian/library as well needs to make better connec-
and a national level page with lists of other links would be tions within their own building, to key raw information
useful if it were easily searchable. resources, besides the usual collecting of library materials.
· Sponsoring travel opportunities for in-person social net- In addition, the librarian should make external connections
working--many public agencies find it difficult whether if possible to local historical society where DOT records are
budgetary or politically to travel to some of the best kept, as well as academic partnerships that could become
training/learning/sharing opportunities mutually beneficial. Thank you.
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· To document results may wish to establish contest show- public agencies approach a problem with an open mind they
ing value derived form Networks. often don't know what questions to ask. If you don't know
· Reasonable fees to OCLC, and support to encourage my what you are looking for it doesn't matter how much infor-
DOT to buy us into OCLC. mation is (or isn't) already available. It is fine to talk about
· It needs to be flexible allowing multiple small depositories "data driven" decisions, but at many public agencies deci-
that are close to customers and communication across sions are driven as much by policies and politics as they are
depositories. by data. As the old saying goes, you can lead a donkey to
· Internet forums can be a great way to query one's col- water but you can't make him drink. So it goes with public
leagues quickly. To work, such forums need to be special- sector transportation decision making. Greater access to
ized enough but not too much and supported with features information could be helpful, but I wouldn't expect that to
such as reference reports. dramatically change either the decision making process or
· On your website, the initial paragraph talks about "access the outcome.
and share" and although I have not read all the documents, · Stable funding source would be the key to success. Not too
there is no mention of acquisition, housing and preservation many of these available.
of information . . . not everything is digital nor will it be for · There are more important issues that need to be addressed
a while . . . so we still need to think about these issues. than libraries. When the legislature won't provide suffi-
cient positions to do needed design, etc. enhancing library
Comments about Barriers to be Overcome services is the least of my worries.
· It seems like some states have great ideas that work but Comments about Information Access Needs
other states either do not know about them or seem hesi-
tant to use other ideas. We keep re-inventing the wheel · As much focus needs to be paid to the capturing of the lat-
which hinders the progress in the transportation field, est best practices that are developing and not yet docu-
therefore our infrastructures is decades behind. Look at mented in research as the latest NCHRP reports.
bridge maintenance on the interstate system as a good · (1) It would be more useful to organize information by
example. We inspect them all the time but for some reason topic area (e.g., mode, technology type, key issue) rather
they do not get the maintenance attention they need and it than by geographic area. (2) It would also be helpful to
is an aging system. include sources from outside the U.S.
· The largest impediment that I see is the lack of awareness of · Dedicated resources to address data/information collection/
how to learn throughout life. I would like to see require- availability. The current approach is to rely on existing
ments for continual learning, like the kind that teachers resources to do this work whenever it can be squeezed in.
must go through in order to stay certified to teach, or that Those resources usually have higher priority issues to deal
health care workers must take in order to stay licensed. with.
The problem is twofold; there is already a lot of information · Find a way to link international, Federal, state, and univer-
on transportation, it's just that it's not harvested in an effi- sity databases to allow searches of all sources from one
cient way yet, like the NIH does for medical libraries, and search engine.
two, there is no mechanism developed yet that enables or · One critical element of such networks is that they need all
forces state DOT workers to take advantage of this knowl- electronic search and access. Electronic search and access for
edge in a systematic way. published materials are well established through university
· The problem has been framed as primarily a lack of access to libraries across the nation. However, electronic search and
data. I'm not sure that is the right way to look at the situa- access for un-published documents, particularly those from
tion. You might ask why it is that transportation agencies so various government agencies at all levels, is not well estab-
often prefer to re-invent the wheel rather than looking lished. The key is to have a system in which all such docu-
around to see what is available first. I think you will discover ments would be provided electronically through the Internet
that lack of access to data usually isn't the obstacle to good or a particular database.
decisions and workable plans. Agencies often have more dif- · Develop a search engine like Google which can comb the
ficulty defining the problems they are trying to solve, estab- world's transportation libraries, and which will let us know
lishing objectives, and being open to a wide range of research in progress as well as completed studies.
alternatives. And because public agencies very often go into · The key here is to make the information easily accessible
a project or planning process with a "solution" already from anywhere. Practitioners want information instantly.
firmly in mind they have much less incentive to look around If not available, they will simply move on with the work
at how others have tackled similar problems. Even when and assume no information is available.
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· Need to consider how data is used in relation to format it their experience can be leveraged for the transportation
is provided. GIS data is essential community.
· Enterprise Content/Document Management; structures to
Comments about Specific Information Needs to be support improvements in technical advances; scalability
Addressed · Need to think differently than the past. What new technol-
ogy will come into use. I would like information to put on my
· I would like to see more information for Landscape Archi- I-Pod or e-reader. What "toys" will we have in the future?
tects. Bio engineering, mitigation creation, fish passage, etc. · Define the problem . . . identifies the information need. . . .
· Best practices for information management, GIS, SOA, identifies the data to be collected. . . .does this exist and then
Open Source. where does this exist or does it need to be purchased. . . .
· Better use of web training or other methods to disseminate information and knowledge are problem driven . . . people
research results. want to know where do I get it, how do I interpret it and can
· Free documents from TRB and AASHTO, more electronic I use if for what i want . . .
access to more things, more links to outsiders views of what · Evaluation of how other industries around the world are
transportation is and does dealing with the same problem.
· Ability to map transportation research products to the
Other national roadmaps for pavement, bridge, safety, etc. There
is a lot of research going on that the Feds don't know about
· As transportation seems to be a follower in this area com- and a lot of national vision not being communicated to
pared to other disciplines, it would make sense to emulate researchers.
what other areas that are leaders in information sharing · Promote a culture of measurement wherever possible.
have done (e.g., biotech?), and in the plan address how · This is a much needed effort!
