Books, Reports, and Other Publications

Locate, view, download, or order scientific and technical articles and reports as well as general interest publications such as booklets, fact sheets, pamphlets, and posters resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners.

• Publications Warehouse
  
  Search over 60,000 bibliographic citations and obtain USGS series publications. Availability of content ranges from purchase through the USGS Store, to full online text, to bibliographic citation only.
  
  
• GeoRef—Publications of the USGS
  
  American Geological Institute data base provides bibliographic information on publications of the USGS and includes references to reports and maps published from 1880 to date, references to non-USGS publications with USGS authors published from 1983 to date, and 225 references to reports produced by the Hayden, King, Powell, and Wheeler surveys.
  
  
• New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey Catalog
  
  On-line version of the printed monthly catalog, "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey" lists new publications by month.

• Biological Resources Publications
  
  Description of each Science Center’s research focus and resulting collection of scientific and technical articles and reports.
  
  
• Minerals Information Periodicals
  
  Locate, view, and download statistics and information on the worldwide supply, demand, and flow of minerals and materials essential to the U.S. economy, the national security, and protection of the environment
  
  
• National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Publications
  
  Links to publications relating to USGS water-quality research and assessment.
  
  
• General Interest Publications
  
  Booklets, brochures, leaflets, and essay reprints written by USGS scientists for nontechnical readers cover topics such as earthquakes, energy resources, ground water, landforms and land use, marine geology, rain, rocks, and mineral resources.
  
  
• Special Books
  
  Publications on a variety of topics that fall outside the scope of the standard USGS formal series designations or that may be of particular interest to certain groups.
  
  
• USGS Science Program and Project Bibliographies
  
  Many USGS Science Programs maintain bibliographies of reports and other publications relating to their specific areas of research.

• Catalog of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Products
  
  The USGS is the distributor for selected National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)-formerly the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) - topographic maps, publications, and digital products. This catalog contains product descriptions, and availability for NGA produced topographic maps and publications.

• Geographic Names Information System
  
  Searchable database of almost two million Federally recognized physical and cultural geographic features in the United States and its Territories.
  
  
• Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
  
  Names of topographic and albedo features on planets and satellites (and some planetary ring and ring-gap systems) approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
  
  
• GEOLEX-Geologic Names Lexicon
  
  Search for lithologic and geochronologic names recognized by the USGS.
  
  
• Enterprise Web Thesaurus
  
  The USGS Enterprise Web Thesaurus is a tool to provide better access to U.S. Geological Survey science information. This database gives a controlled list of subject terms used for categorizing USGS information resources to allow searching from a formal index.
  
  
• Biocomplexity Thesaurus
  
  The Biocomplexity Thesaurus was developed through a partnership between the National Biological Information Infrastructure and CSA, a leading bibliographic database provider. This browsable thesaurus is maintained by the USGS.

• Geologic Map Standards
  
  Standards and guidelines relating to the production of USGS geologic maps.
  
  
• Geospatial Data Standards
  
  Standards used by USGS Geography Discipline to produce and maintain maps and other geospatial data products.
  
  
• Geochemical Reference Standards
  
  Reference standards relating to the geochemical analysis of rocks and minerals.
  
  
• Water Data Acquisition Handbook
  
  Standards and guidance in measuring, estimating, collecting, compiling, and analyzing water-use data from the National Handbook of Recommended Methods for Water Data Acquisition.
  
  

USGS libraries are open to the public for use. From the main USGS Library web site at http://library.usgs.gov you can access the library catalog, request reference services, review lending policies, and contact the libraries.

In addition to the main library system, the USGS maintains several special-emphasis regional Science Center and online digital libraries:

• Biologic Resources Science Center Libraries
• Marine Realms Information Bank (Digital Library)
• U.S. Antarctic Resource Center (Digital Library)
• Tampa Bay Florida Study (Digital Library)

Many USGS publications are in libraries across the nation that participate in the U.S. Government Printing Office's Depository Library Program. To find the closest depository library, go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html.

Contact your local public or academic library for assistance. Your librarian can arrange to borrow USGS publications from other libraries through interlibrary loan.