[AAACE-NLA]Opposing proposed changes to ERIC

[David J. Rosen]

Hello George and others,

As you requested, George, below is a copy of a letter I sent to Senator 
Kennedy.  It is short, and to the point. I drew heavily from information 
which was posted by Debra Hargrove on the AALPD list. I sent similar 
letters to Kerry and Capuano, and a different letter to Rod Paige. It 
only takes a few minutes to do this, but we must not let ERIC -- or 
LINCS -- be dismantled.

All the best,

David

David J. Rosen

---------------------


The Honorable Edward Kennedy
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

April 21, 2003

Dear Senator Kennedy:

As an educator who frequently uses the Education Resources Information
Clearinghouse (ERIC) I am distressed to learn that the U.S. Department
of Education has issued a draft plan for a "New ERIC" system which
eliminates all 16 Clearinghouses and their services and proposes a
dramatic change in the content of the ERIC database.

I understand that 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
     electronic lists
- 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

I urge you to oppose this plan and to keep the ERIC system – one of
the most valuable resources for educators who wish to leave no family
behind  -- as it is.

Thank you very much

Sincerely,



David  J. Rosen, Ed.D.
7 Newsome Park
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
02130