Project Updates and News...

Malmstrom AFB Library Soars

Best in Command, Again!

For the third year in a row, Malmstrom Air Force Base Library has won the coveted "Best in Command" Award for the Air Force Space Command (AFSC). The award was based on criteria such as the types of programs offered and attendance statistics. Led by Carol Banas, the Malmstrom Library team includes Beth Cooper, Tom Mital, Linda Rangitsch, and Kym Robertson. (photo, Kym Roberts, Beth Cooper, Linda Rangitsch, and Carol Banas. Not shown: Tom Mital)

In addition to the Best in Command Award, as part of the 341 Services Squad, Malmstrom Library was chosen as the AFSC's candidate for the Eubank Award, named for Major General Eugene Lowry Eubank (1892-1997). Eubank retired in 1954 as the Air Force's oldest pilot having flown between 14 to 15 thousand hours. The annual Eubank Award is given to the Air Force base that has the most outstanding Service Squadron among the small Air Force bases. Evaluators come to the base and visit each facility to hear about what is going on--the type of services being offering, what they plan for the future, etc. This year Malmstrom Library's theme for the visit was "Creating Imagination." The photo was taken during the evaluation.

F.E. Warren AFB Library

The Library staff at F.E.Warren, led by Pat Johnson, received a perfect score on their recent Quality Assurance Evaluation for the new contract year. In addition to Pat, the team there includes Kami Komm, Suk Young Lewis, and Flora O'Connor. Congratulations!

Cannon AFB Library

Cannon Library's homepage and catalog are now available to the world. Check them out at 204.94.149.125/cafblibrary.htm.

Goddard Day: A Big Success

The IIa managed library (teamed with (ZAI) display booth for the July 11th Goddard Day celebration at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center was a great success. Well over 550 attendees visited the booth. The Library's giveaways were even more popular than anticipated and were snapped up quickly; staff gave out 350 Library logo pens, hundreds of magnets and bags, and our limited supply of cups, as well as informational handouts. More than 320 people signed up for the Library's raffle of four T-Shirts donated by Library staff.

On previous Goddard Days and at similar events, the Library's display booth has been staffed and managed by Government employees with limited contractor participation. The decision to entrust the entire operation to the contractor this year is a significant vote of confidence from our client. It was a team effort. All of the Library staff are congratulated for the success!

IIa Staffer in China

IIa Biodiversity Specialist Annie Simpson was one of two USGS scientists who accompanied Assistant Secretary of State John Turner and his delegation to China in July. The mission was to further develop a bilateral dialogue on sustainable development issues.

Part of the agenda for the July 15-17 trip was a joint inter-agency meeting to highlight priorities and partnerships related to the issues of water, forests, oceans, and environmental management. Randy Westbrooks (Biological Resources, Whitesville, North Carolina) and Annie contributed to the discussions on invasive species. They also met separately with representatives of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing to promote the interoperability of biodiversity and invasive species databases, and to explore the Chinese World Data Center of Renewable Resources and Environment. (photo, Annie at the Great Wall of China)

The Chinese Species Information System's database can be found at www.chinabiodiversity.com.