----------------------------Original message---------------------------- This message is forwarded from Geonet-L. Perhaps the map library community needs to develop a response. Linda Zellmer Date: Tue, 17 Oct 95 12:55 PDT From: "Barbara E. Haner" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: USGS Publications Advisory Coomiittee needs input USGS: GEOLOGIC DIVISION PUBLICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE An Ad Hoc Committee has been formed within the Geologic Division of the USGS to make recommendations on a wide variety of issues concerned with publications, the integration of the scientific programs into the publication process, and the USGS libraries. Recommendations will be made to the Chief Geologist and the Division Policy Council. The final report will be sent to the Chief Geologist in November. The chair of the committee, James Smith, is seeking general overall publication reviews from outsiders. This is your opportunity: as librarians, as users of the geologic literature, as keen observers of its use by patrons, and as people with a vested interest in the smooth, efficient dissemination of the published literature to have input into a critical report. You have all had the opportunity to work with the new digital formats and probably have some insight into their efficiency, usefulness, and what is missing or currently unavailable when information is presented in this format. You have worked with the USGS publication series and maps and know the usefulness and value of these series. How do they relate to the needs of your patrons? Do you see overlap? How are open-file reports used? What improvements would you like to see? Think of these issues and others, then put pen to paper. Some of the issues being considered by the committee which you may wish to address include: - Establishing publication priorities - What type of publications should be published in the future. - Standards for publications and whether these should be determined by regional technical report publication groups/units or a central publications group - On-line publishing, publications on alternate media (eg. WWW) etc. What types of information in this form, are they efficient and can they be maintained? How is payment made? - What are the consideration for spatial databases and the implications for their use, distribution, etc - What policies should be developed to govern general interest publications *** What administration and technical support does the library need and who should provide it. (The library by tradition has been in the Geologic Division to support the research efforts of scientists); library funding, organization, its future role. Letters should be sent to: Chairman Publications Advisory Committee James Smith, Chairman U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 910 345 Middlefield Road Menlo Park, CA 90025 Fax: 415-329-5203 email: [log in to unmask] OR: Library Representative to Publications Committee Wendy Merryman U.S. Geological Survey National Center, M.S. 950 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 22092 Library Issues Committee Kathryn Gunderson, Chairman U.S. Geological Survey National Center, M.S. 802 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 22092 OR: West Coast Library Representative William Normark Associate Chief Geologist U.S. Geological Survey M.S. 919 345 Middlefield Road Menlo Park, CA 94025 email: [log in to unmask] Distributed by: Barbara E. Haner, GIS President [log in to unmask]