Visiting the Library

About Us | Visiting | Help in the Library | Borrowing

ABOUT US

The U.S. Congress authorized a library for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1879. The library was formally established in 1882 with the naming of the first librarian and began with a staff of three and a collection of 1,400 books. Today, the USGS Libraries Program is one of the world's largest Earth and natural science repositories and a resource of national significance used by researchers and the public worldwide.

USGS Libraries Program Brochure

VISITING

The public is welcome to visit the USGS Libraries and use the collections Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Photo identification is required to enter most federal government buildings. Expert staff is always available to assist visitors and give informal orientations. Tours by groups can be arranged upon request. Visitors may use library materials on the premises. See BORROWING below for details. Photocopiers are available at all locations. The online catalog is available on the World Wide Web.

HELP IN THE LIBRARY

Each library has expert reference librarians available to assist with research and provide answers to reference questions received by phone, fax, or in person. To ask for reference assistance by E-mail, use the Ask a Librarian link on the Library’s home page.

BORROWING

If the public wants to borrow books they must ask their local library (i.e. public, school, university, or corporate library) to borrow them from the USGS Libraries via a process called interlibrary loan (ILL). Your local library may send ILL requests through either the OCLC electronic ILL system (see OCLC symbols below) or on the standard American Library Association (ALA) form by email, mail or FAX to the appropriate branch library.

Branch Libraries and their OCLC Symbols:

Reston Library: GIS
Denver Library: GID
Lafayette Library: FZU
Menlo Park Library: GIM
Flagstaff Library: GIG