# International Polar Year 2007 - 2008 

# Resources on Polar Research {#resources-on-polar-research .author-name}

in the NOAA Central Library Network

# A. Fiolek {#a.-fiolek .author-name}

NOAA Central Library, National Oceanographic Data Center,

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

SSMC3, 2^ND^ Floor, 1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA

*Abstract:* The NOAA Library Network collections are unique: over 40% of
the items in NOAALINC (the online catalog) and in WorldCat (the world's
largest bibliographic database) are not found anywhere else. The Central
Library also has the original collections of the U.S. Weather Bureau and
the Coast and Geodetic Survey -- approximately 110,000 items which
include documents related to the three preceding International Polar
Years and related expeditions. Unique polar research materials contain
historic and current reports from various polar expeditions, including
the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The presence of these unique and
historical resources in NOAA prompted the Library to participate in 4th
International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 activities. 

In addition, unique and historically valuable NOAA polar research
documents and scientific data, in the forms of  digital videos, still
images, and datasets, have also been entered into NOAALINC, the National
Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Ocean Archive System (OAC), and other
oceanographic information catalogs and databases.  These additional
resources are possible thanks to the Library's collaboration with other
NOAA projects and programs, such as the Video Data Management System
(VDMS), Climate Data Modernization Program (CDMP), and NODC Cruise
Report Program.

Over one hundred fifty unique and historically valuable publications
were selected, cataloged, imaged and entered into NOAALINC with online
links to assure open access to these full-text documents. A
comprehensive printed and online bibliography was created to provide
additional resources to the polar material. The online bibliography also
serves as an Internet locator for printed and related sources for polar
research. It is available via the NOAA Central Library's Bibliographies'
home page at:
<http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/Bibliographies/IPY2007.pdf>  

During the 4^th^ International Polar Years 2007-2008, the NOAA Library
Network collections are authoritative resources for polar data and
research.

I.  introduction

The International Polar Year is a cooperative effort "to fully
investigate every possible aspect of the Polar Regions - the seas, the
land and the ice; the life and peoples who are at home at the Poles, and
even the view of the universe from the 'ends of the Earth'.\" \[1\] The
4^th^ International Polar Year is an opportunity to increase public
awareness of research into weather and climate conditions at the poles,
including incremental temperature and ice thickness changes, and other
phenomena. To better understand the historical patterns of climate
change, early oceanographic and atmospheric observations and data are
significant to this research. NOAA's national data centers and their
libraries are primary scientific resources in the search for the answers
to global climatic anomalies.

The NOAA Central Library and Information Network maintains collections
of over 3 million volumes in all formats from 30 NOAA libraries
nationwide. Collections include books, technical reports, maps,
scientific observations, photographs, professional journals, digital
videos, images, and artifacts. Many are in electronic format and widely
available to NOAA scientists and to the general public via NOAALINC, its
online catalog at: <http://www.lib.noaa.gov/uhtbin/webcat>.

The online catalog contains links to over 45,000 full-text documents and
other web resources. These include historical documents containing
observations in climate, oceanography, fisheries, and early surveys of
the coasts of United States. Over 40% of the NOAA libraries' collections
are unique. These include historical data from early polar expeditions,
and polar cruises sponsored during the first three International Polar
Years.

The NOAA Central Library considers participation in the 4^th^
International Polar Year activities as an unique opportunity to support
the NOAA scientists and the research community in their projects during
IPY 2007-2008.

The events of the 4^th^ IPY provided a great chance to better assess,
catalog, preserve, archive and provide online access to historical
documents concerned with polar regions. An objective of this project was
to make rare and unique historical material available in full-text on
Web. NOAA's historical collections are in all formats: books, government
reports, expedition reports, videos, photographs and other forms of
documentation concerning explorers, scientists and organizations
prominent in the advancement of knowledge about polar regions.

II. historical polar documents

Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the NOAA Central Library
(NCL) networks over thirty NOAA libraries nationwide. NCL is considered
the historically richest and most comprehensive multidisciplinary
scientific collection in hydrographic surveying, oceanography, ocean
engineering, atmospheric sciences (climatology and meteorology),
meteorological satellite applications, living marine resources,
geophysics, cartography, and mathematics in the Western Hemisphere. It
incorporates holdings of NOAA's predecessor agencies, including the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Weather Bureau, and the Bureau of
Fisheries. The collections reflect the history of these organizations,
their scientific research, observations and data from 1820 to the
present.

NOAA Central Library is also recognized as an important resource on
history of polar discoveries and polar research. These historical
publications include reports from early Arctic and Antarctic expeditions
from the European countries, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Its Rare Books Collection offers unique accounts of early polar
explorations from 1700s though 1950s when 3^rd^ IPY activities
concluded. Significant examples are:

1.  *An Account of the Arctic Regions with a History and Description of
    the Northern Whale-Fishery*. W. Scoresby. 1820 (see Fig.1).

2.  *Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-West Passage: and
    of a Residence in the Arctic Regions During the years 1829, 1830,
    1831, 1832, 1833*.

3.  *Arctic Explorations: the Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of
    Sir John Franklin, 1853, \'54, \'55*.

4.  *The Open Polar Sea: a Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery Towards
    the North Pole, in the Schooner \"United States.\"* 1867.

5.  *Report of the Cruise of the U.S. Revenue-Steamer Corwin in the
    Arctic Ocean*. 1881.

6.  *Instructions for the Commanding Officers of the International Polar
    Stations Occupied by the Signal Service*. 1881.

7.  *International Polar Expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska*. 1881.

8.  *The Voyage of the Jeannette: the Ship and Ice Journals of George W.
    De Long, Lieutenant-Commander U. S. N., and Commander of the Polar
    Expedition of 1879-1881*. (see Fig.2).

9.  *Die meteorologischen Beobachtungen und die Analyse des Schiffcurses
    während der Polarexpedition unter Weyprecht und Payer, 1872-1874.*

10. *Narrative of the North Polar Expedition: U.S. Ship Polaris, Captain
    Charles Francis Hall commanding. 1876.*

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="3.2597222222222224in" height="2.1375in"}

Fig. 1. An Account of the Arctic Regions with a History and Description
of the Northern Whale-Fishery, W. Scoresby. 1820. Book in full-text
available via NOAALINC

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.2597222222222224in" height="2.1375in"}

Fig. 2. The Voyage of the Jeannette: the Ship and Ice Journals of George
W. De Long, Polar Expedition of 1879-188. Book in full-text

available via NOAALINC

The preceding figures are examples of the one hundred fifty
polar-related documents that have been imaged and are available in
full-text online via NOAALINC at http://www.lib.noaa.gov/uhtbin/webcat
and the library's IPY web site.

The *International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008: Polar Resources in the
NOAA Library Network* Web site (see Fig. 3) supports the Agency\'s and
NOAA Central Library (NCL) activities during International Polar Year
2007-2008. It displays a selection of exclusive online resources on
exploration and research in Polar Regions. The collection includes
library holdings from the 1st (1881-1883) through the 3rd (1957-1958)
International Polar Years. The selected documents are available online
full-text at:
[http://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/ipy.html](http://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/IPY.html)

![](media/image3.png){width="2.839583333333333in"
height="2.777083333333333in"}

Fig. 3. Polar Resources home page developed in

the NOAA Central Library for IPY 2007-2008
(<http://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/ipy.html>)

III. printed and polar online publications

To provide additional access to NOAA's polar resources beyond NOAALINC
and WorldCat, a bibliography *was* compiled, entitled*: International
Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008: Historical Documents on Polar Research in
the NOAA Library Information Network*. It reflects the NCL network's
unique print and online resources on this subject. This bibliography
includes over 2000 citations and is organized by title. The data and
listings are comprehensive from the 18th century to the present. The
formats represented include print, CD-ROM, online full-text documents,
digital videos, digital images, online cruise data and Web resources.

The bibliography is organized into four sections: I. What is the
International Polar Year? II. Historical Resources on Polar Research in
the NOAA Central Library Special Collections. III. Current Resources on
Polar Research in the NOAA Central Library Network. IV. Internet
Resources on Polar Research.

This publication was updated on April 2007 and is available online via
the NOAA library's home page at:
<http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/Bibliographies/IPY2007.pdf>

IV. resources for current polar observations and cruise reports

In addition to historical polar documents, the National Oceanographic
Data Center (NODC) and the NOAA Central Library provide access to
contemporary oceanographic observations, cruise information, and digital
video data. These cruise reports, digital videos, and scientific data
sets are also available online via the NODC Ocean Archives System (OAS)
at: <http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/search/prod/>, and also via NOAALINC,
library online catalog at: <http://www.lib.noaa.gov/uhtbin/webcat>.

Fig. 5 is an example of NOAALINC metadata information on a cruise to the
Antarctic Ocean in 1969 and 1970 (*Eltanin reports. Cruises 37-39, 1969.
42-46, 1970 : hydrographic stations, bottom photographs, current
measurements, nephelometer profiles)*. A hot link from the library
record in MARC21 standards provides direct access to the raw
observations from the same cruise via NODC OAS database displayed in
Fig. 6.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.615972222222222in"
height="2.779166666666667in"}

Fig. 5.The NOAALINC's metadata provides access to the polar cruise
report and to the NODC OAS database

NODC provides long term archival storage, management and stewardship of
digital oceanographic data and metadata. Each new collection of data is
assigned an NODC accession number as a tracking number for the
collection. A copy of cruise reports and related data files from
specific Ocean Exploration polar expeditions are placed in the
associated NODC accession(s), with a link to the file established in the
NOAALINC.

Another NOAA office, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
(OER) provides information on various polar expeditions via the NOAA
Ocean Explorer portal at <http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/>. These
resources include cruise summaries, digital images, digital video clips,
educational lesson plans, and daily logs of cruise activities.

![](media/image5.png){width="3.1944444444444446in"
height="0.5159722222222223in"}

NOAA OER Web portal provides detailed information on the NOAA signature
oceanographic expeditions and projects.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="2.6444444444444444in" height="2.775in"}

Fig. 6. NODC OAS's Accession record providing access to raw observations
from the polar cruise described in NOAALINC

V.  digital videos

To address an increasing interest for archiving, preserving and managing
digital videos, the Library embarked on a collaboration with the NOAA
Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) to organize and assure
the public access to the scientific digital video and image data. As a
result of this collaboration the Video Data Management System (VDMS) has
been developed featuring thousands of digital videos and images from the
oceanographic cruises, including those from expeditions to the Arctic
and the Antarctic. They have been preserved, archived, and their
highlights offered online. (see Fig. 7.)

The VDMS team works closely with NOAA OE project scientists,
oceanographers and IT specialists to develop and implement the data
management requirements and strategies. This project also provides an
ongoing opportunity to improve the quality and completeness of metadata
information used in the NOAALINC catalog and NODC Ocean Archive System
and to provide online access to NOAA ocean exploration video and related
data to a global customer base.

![](media/image7.png){width="2.5729166666666665in"
height="2.501388888888889in"}

Fig. 7. NOAALINC provides access to hundreds of digital video clips (
"Under the Arctic Ice" captured during the NOAA OER *Hidden Ocean 2005
Expedition.*)

VI. digital photographs

The Library's IPY home page, via the NOAA Photo Library, offers over
2000 digital images pertaining to the polar themes in both low and high
resolutions that are available online for viewing and/or downloading.
Most of the polar photos are included in two photo albums entitled *NOAA
at the ends of the Earth* and *NOAA's Ark* at:
<http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/>.

The pictures were taken by NOAA scientists during their various field
projects, oceanographic cruises, and assignments in the Arctic,
Antarctic and other distant Polar Regions. The albums are part of the
NOAA Photo Library, an online collection of over 35,000 photographs
organized, digitized and annotated by the NOAA Central Library staff.

Polar images are also available via the NOAA Central Library's IPY home
page at:
[www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/polar/ipy.html](http://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/polar/IPY.html)

VII. polar poster

Library staff also developed a *Polar Poster* as a visual display of the
library activities for IPY. It is available in PDF, JPEG, and TIFF
formats for downloading from the library's IPY home page at:
<http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docs/bibliographies.html> (see Fig. 4)

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="3.167361111111111in"
height="2.0833333333333335in"}

Fig. 4. Polar Poster developed in the NOAA Central Library for
International Polar Year 2007-2008
(<http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docs/bibliographies.html>)

VIII\. conclusion

The NOAA Central Library's IPY project and products are excellent
examples of how NOAA's scientific data in both physical and online
formats are archived and preserved to support a specific international
initiative. The library and data center staff will continue to
collaborate closely with NOAA scientists and educators to improve the
quality and completeness of metadata and information used in NOAALINC
and the NODC Ocean Archive System to improve access and use by NOAA's
global customer base to support this and other forthcoming international
research initiatives.

To find more information on NOAA activities during 4^th^ International
Polar Year, contact the Agency's IPY home page at:
<http://www.ipy.noaa.gov/>

acknowlegements

The author wishes to thank Dr. Neal Kaske, Acting Director of NOAA
Central Library; Doria Grimes, Chief of NOAA Central Library Contract
Operations; and Donald W. Collins, Oceanographer of NOAA's National
Oceanographic Data Center, for their support, subject expertise, and
editorial suggestions. Special thanks go to Diana Abney, Librarian for
coordinating the imaging of the selected publications; and to the NOAA
Climate Data Modernization Project (CDMP).

references

\[1\] *International Polar Year: NOAA Explores the Poles*. 2007. Silver
Spring, MD: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, August 2, 2007 \<
<http://www.ipy.noaa.gov/>\>