To build and organize the collection
of scientific materials focused on the earth sciences.
The original mission statement of the USGS library formed in 1879,
the same year that Congress authorized the USGS.
Since that time, the library has become recognized
as the world's leading Earth Sciences Library,
providing services, collections and expertize that are essential to the support
of scientists and the USGS mission.
Our services extend to key stakeholders and collaborators,
researchers and scientists, the public, members of academia,
other federal agencies as well as federal, academic and public libraries.
In 1974, the USGS library relocated
from the Main Department of the Interior building in Washington, D.C.,
to its current location at the National Center in Reston, Virginia.
Over the years, the library has grown exponentially, and we currently maintain
collections and services in multiple locations across the country
and provide virtual services to users around the world.
Back in 1879, the library began
with just a staff of three people and a collection of 1400 books.
Now our collections include over 1.5 million volumes.
750,000 maps.
Half a million historical photos, and 30,000 field records.
In 2015, it was estimated that the replacement value
of the library's physical collection was upwards of $139 million dollars.
The USGS library manages multidisciplinary
multi format library collections and enterprise wide license subscriptions
to provide relevant, authoritative, timely, peer reviewed materials.
The library's online catalog provides centralized access to all our collections
and is searchable from anywhere.
Our collection is very unique,
and you might be surprised to know that approximately 40 to 60% of titles
in the USGS Library are available in less than 20 libraries worldwide,
and an estimated 11% of the collection
in excess of 38,000 titles is unique to the USGS.
The library at the National Center
is the largest facility and houses the Topographic Map Archive.
Most of our collections printed serials and the library's
special materials held in the Rare Book Room.
The Rare Book Room holds unusual publications,
rare books and maps collected since 1879.
Historical maps and publications of the survey, as well as early
publications of many federal, state and other geological survey's.
The four great surveys of the American West
undertaken by USGS surveyors Wheeler, King,
Hayden and Powell in the late 1800's are included in their entirety.
Other special collections at the library include the USGS Field Records,
the historical photograph collection and the library's aerial photo collection.
The library also manages and maintains the USGS Publications Warehouse,
providing an index to official USGS author publications
includes journal articles, series reports, book capters,
other government publications and conference proceedings.
The publication Warehouse offers over 160,000 citations,
and to date, over 87% of USGS numbered
series reports have been digitized.
Preserving historical collections for future scientists
provides the most up to date resources for current research.
The library also offers a wide variety of online tutorials,
educational resources and instructional tools.
These guides are available through the library's website
and cover everything from library how-to's, missions support resources,
USGS mapping tools and special events content as well.
If you need more hands on assistance, the library staff are subject
matter experts and we are always willing to create trainings specific to any need
you or your colleagues might have.
In taking a broader look at the mission of the USGS,
providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand
the Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters,
manage water, biological, energy
and mineral resources, and enhance and protect our quality of life.
The library provides the support to achieve the mission of the USGS.