Ms. Vance-Cooks is set to become acting public printer on Tuesday and will be the first woman to hold the job.

WSJ: Stop Press: U.S. Printer Bails

However, Michael DiMario, public printer at the Government Printing Office, thinks closing NTIS could make it more challenging for the public to find government documents.

CNN: Reducing the public's access to tech info

The classic example is Benjamin Franklin, who was a printer, publisher and public official but still made key discoveries in electricity.

WSJ: Citizen Scientists Take On the Health Establishment