I'm forwarding this from the Geonet discussion list. There was a
discussion as to why USGS doesn't collect information about local
scanning efforts and organize an online index to those sources. WAML and
MAGERT have their clearinghouses - but this is specific to USGS pubs
only. Just thought I'd share.

Angie
-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: [Geonet] USGS Monographs
Date:   Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:38:13 -0500
From:   Richard L Huffine <[log in to unmask]>
To:     [log in to unmask]




I've been following this string with interest and I feel like I need to
chime in here just to let you all know what the USGS Library wants to do
in the future. It is our desire to create a digital repository for all
USGS publications - a resource that would compliment the USGS
Publications Warehouse. We plan on assigning persistent links to USGS
publications. We plan on restarting the scanning efforts that were
initiated under Nancy Blair as well as converting all of the
LizardTech/DejaVu files to PDF format for easier downloading and for
full-text indexing and search. Our plans also include creating a
"digital deposit" program where libraries can collect, archive or serve
copies of USGS documents in their own digital repositories.

At this time, we are still in the planning phases for this effort but we
hope to move quickly to pilot technologies and approaches and to fully
articulate the costs and benefits this approach would have for both the
USGS and its public users. The scope of our interest is not only
USGS-published reports but also USGS-published maps, USGS-authored
journal articles, images, data sets, satellite imagery, and ultimately
materials held by the USGS Library that are in the public domain.  This
would definitely include the early surveys that were done prior to the
creation of the USGS under the authority of the War Department.

Much of the infrastructure necessary to achieve this vision is not in
place today and the USGS Library has not been able to secure any
additional funding to make these goals a reality. We have, however, been
able to hire some excellent new staff members to compliment the already
dedicated and talented staff currently supporting the USGS Library. We
are looking for partners and would love to receive assistance from
academic institutions that might be able to contribute the time of
student assistants, access to scanning/digitization labs, and access to
copies of USGS publications that we haven't been able to scan to date.
Of course, without a repository system in place, we really don't have a
good place to put scanned materials yet.

I hope this gives you all some perspective on the challenges the USGS
Library sees before itself. We want to serve your libraries and your
patrons as an authoritative resources for USGS-published materials and
we are working hard to make that a reality.

Richard Huffine
National Library Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey (MS 159)
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Tel 703-648-7182
Email: [log in to unmask]