Libraries Program

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey

General Information Product 125

Visiting USGS Libraries

Public users are welcome to visit any of the USGS 

libraries and use their collections; libraries are 

open Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. Photo identification is required to enter 

most Federal government buildings. Staff are 

always available to assist visitors and give informal 

orientations. Tours by groups can be arranged 

on request. Visitors may use library materials on 

the premises. Photocopiers are available at all 

locations. The online catalog is available from the 

library home page (http://library.usgs.gov/).

Help in the Library

Each library has expert reference librarians 

available to assist with research and provide 

answers to reference questions received by 

telephone, fax, or in person.

Borrowing Materials

To borrow materials from a USGS library, 

members of the public must work through their 

local library (public, university, or corporate) to 

request the materials via interlibrary loan. The 

USGS does not accept requests by telephone or 

in person.

Branch Locations

Denver Library

U.S. Geological Survey Library

Box 25046, MS 914

Building 20, Room C–2002

Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225–0046

Telephone: 303–236–1000

E-mail: den_lib@usgs.gov

Flagstaff Library

U.S. Geological Survey Library

2255 N. Gemini Drive

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Telephone: 928–556–7008

E-mail: flag_lib@usgs.gov

Menlo Park Library

U.S. Geological Survey Library

345 Middlefield Road, MS 955

Menlo Park, CA 94025–3591

Telephone: 650–329–5027

E-mail: men_lib@usgs.gov

Reston Library

U.S. Geological Survey Library

950 National Center Room 1D100

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

Reston, VA 20192

Telephone: 703–648–4302

E-mail: library@usgs.gov

Web Sites

Library http://library.usgs.gov/

Publications Warehouse http://pubs.usgs.gov/

Photographic Library http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/
Overview

History

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.

Organization

There are four branch libraries and more than 20 

smaller libraries in field offices and science centers 

across the country. Each location features highly 

specialized items related to the research being 

conducted locally. Specific locations are listed on 

the library Web site (http://library.usgs.gov/).

The Future

The USGS Libraries Program is pursuing a 

digital library strategy that is expected to continue 

expanding access to the research literature that 

USGS staff and the public need in order to 

understand the issues our Nation and world face 

today.

Digital library initiatives are underway to improve 

the way the USGS manages digital content as well 

as the ways researchers can find, get, and use Earth 

and natural science information resources from 

wherever they are.

Collections

USGS libraries contain approximately 1.5 million 

volumes spanning more than 400 years of Earth and 

natural science literature. The libraries also contain 

more than 700,000 maps covering the globe and more 

than 500,000 historical photographs documenting the 

early exploration of the American West and other USGS 

scientific pursuits since the late 1800s.

Kunz Collection, Reston, Virginia

The George F. Kunz collection is a significant special 

collection of gems and minerals and includes rare books 

on gemology, the folklore of gemstones, and archival 

gem trade records important to the provenance of named 

stones, such as the “Hope Diamond.” Kunz was a special 

agent for the USGS and vice president of Tiffany & Co. 

and was a preeminent gem expert.

Photographic Collection, Denver, Colorado

The Photographic Collection is an archive of still 

photographs and original sketches, dating from the 

1870s, taken by USGS scientists as part of their field 

studies. Selected photographs from the collection can be 

accessed online from the USGS Photographic Collection 

Web site (http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/).

Field Records Collection, Denver, Colorado

The Field Records Collection is an archive of field notes, 

correspondence, manuscripts, maps, analysis reports, 

and other data created or collected by USGS geologists 

during field studies and other project work 

(http://www.cr.usgs.gov/fieldrecords/).

Access to Online Resources

Onsite visitors to USGS libraries can access a number 

of resources, including many of the electronic journal 

and database subscriptions purchased for use by USGS 

personnel. To confirm availability of specific resources, 

please contact the library prior to your visit.

USGS Publications

The USGS Libraries Program manages a central 

resource for finding and accessing research reports 

written by USGS staff. The Publications Warehouse 

contains citations for more than 100,000 reports, 

articles, and maps. More than 60 percent of the entire 

catalog of USGS published reports is available online 

for download from the Publications Warehouse 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/.)

Ask a Librarian

The USGS Libraries Program offers an electronic 

reference service. If you are a student, teacher, or 

researcher, you may request assistance in finding 

information on Earth and natural science topics 

(http://library.usgs.gov/ext_request.html).