National Transportation Library (NTL)

Overview

The National Transportation Library (NTL) is a fully digital federal library operated by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a principal agency within the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Established in 1998, the NTL provides national and international access to transportation research, coordinates information creation and dissemination, and offers reference services for the transportation community. Its digital repository, the Repository and Open Science Access Portal (ROSA P), named in honor of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, contains nearly 60,000 digital objects, all free and in the public domain.

History and Founding

The NTL evolved from a BTS information-sharing project initially recognized by Congress in the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 1997 (passed September 1996). It was formally established as a permanent part of BTS by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), enacted on June 9, 1998. Robert Zarnetske launched NTL with the vision of providing a complete reference library at every researcher's desk. From 2008 to 2015, NTL's director also served concurrently as director of the USDOT Headquarters Library. In 2012, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) expanded NTL's mandate to include acquiring, preserving, and managing transportation information; providing expanded services to the USDOT, other federal agencies, and the public; and coordinating a comprehensive national transportation information network. ROSA P was named after Rosa Parks in 2017. On October 1, 2020, the DOT Headquarters Library closed and NTL assumed responsibility for several of its functions.

Collections and Holdings

The NTL maintains a digital repository of full-text documents, datasets, and other resources covering all modes of transportation. The NTL Archives holds analog materials including books, journals, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, ephemera, film, and video documenting the history of the US Department of Transportation and its predecessor agencies. Source materials in the repository originate from DOT, state departments of transportation, local and tribal road agencies, university transportation programs, and related organizations. Formal documents signed by previous Secretaries of Transportation are preserved in the digital collection. The archives are open by appointment only, Monday–Thursday, 10:00–16:00.

Access and Usage

ROSA P is fully open to the public at rosap.ntl.bts.gov. The NTL also supports the National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN), a voluntary alliance of transportation information professionals. Researchers can submit reference questions and content via LibAnswers. The NTL is located at 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590.