1. How do I find a publication by an author?
From the search box on the home page, you can retrieve
results by an author by entering a single name. If you enter
"fish
," 142 results are returned. The basic search result window
has purple tabs to help you subset this list. If you click on
"Author," six documents with the author "Fish" are
returned.
To be more specific, click on the Advanced Search link
under the Product Warehouse banner, enter the author information in
the author search fields, and then click GO. Or, in the Advanced Search window,
enter the publication subject, then click "sort by author
," and
GO. The results will be listed alphabetically by author.
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2. I get too many results. What should I do?
Please read the Publications Warehouse Search Tips. Use
of the Advanced search will allow you to improve your
search results.
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4. Why
can't I find information about animals that I
know you have?
Only a limited number of Biological Resources Discipline
report citations, primarily historical research reports and Fact Sheets,
are included at this time (May 2004). We will continue to add biological
reports, so please check back. Follow this link to Publications by
Biological Science Center.
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5. The publication I am interested in is not online and it
is Out of Stock. How can I get it?
Out-of-print USGS publications and maps, depending on
series and date, can usually be obtained in either of two ways:
1. Check with your local public, academic, or
corporate librarian to request an interlibrary loan from either a
regional government depository library or from your nearest USGS
Library.
2. Purchase copies through the services of a document
delivery company. Several of these are listed on the Web at:
http://www.docdel.com/Geology_and_Earth_Sciences.html
Selected USGS publications, especially those that are old,
popular, or rare, may also be available from used book dealers. Lists and
searchable databases of used books are available at several sources on the
Web.
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6. Why
isn't there a citation in the Publications Warehouse
for a publication that I know exists?
All publication bibliographic citations are not currently
available. For example, unnumbered report citations are not in the Publications
Warehouse, but they may be available online or for purchase
through the USGS Store.
Only the
publications listed in the Inventory are included at this time.
The Inventory lists the date range of each series including the most current
month loaded for all series that are still active.
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7. How do I find a product that was very recently
published?
The
Publications Warehouse gets information about new publications from a variety
of sources. We are notified after those sources receive information on the
new publications.
Some reports are available electronically at the time of announcement. The
lag between a publication announcement and its appearance in the Publications
Warehouse is usually less than two months. Information about recent
USGS publications is available at:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/index.shtml
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8. What is a USGS series?
A series is a collection of similar products, which also may be grouped
by audience or packaging requirements.
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9. How do I get a paper copy of an online document?
Publications
are available in HTML or a document format called
PDF. If you see "online document" next to the results list or
"View Publication" at the top of the bibliographic citation, you can
click on either choice to go to the document and then send it to your laser
printer. The PDF file is likely to print in book layout, similar to a commercially
formatted document.
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10. How do I obtain a Fact Sheet or Circular listed as
"Cost $0.00" (distributed free of charge)?
Use the same PDF order
form for ordering items for
purchase. You will still need to pay $5.00 shipping and handling per
order.
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11. Is the bibliographic citation in the form it should
appear when I cite a product in a USGS publication?
No, different publishers require different forms. Follow
this link for "Suggestions to Authors" specifications and
examples of the style for citations published by the USGS.
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12. I can't find the map I need or an answer to my
question here. Who should I contact?
We suggest trying the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth
Science Information Center (ESIC). The ESIC offers nationwide information
and sales service for USGS map products and natural science publications.
ESIC can fill orders for custom products such as aerial photographs and
orthophotoquads, digital cartographic data, and geographic names data.
Follow this link to the ESIC home page.
For further assistance and to order, contact the ESIC by
telephone toll free at 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747).
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13. I want to buy a topographic map. How do I get it?
The U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) and thousands of USGS
map dealers sell topographic maps. To locate a USGS map dealer near you,
click here. USGS Earth Science Information Centers (ESICs) also sell
topographic maps. Follow this link to the ESIC home page or call
1-888-ASK-USGS.
Scanned versions of all the topographic maps are also available online.
Follow this link for information on how to use the National Atlas to view
a topographic map.
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14. How do I contact a local office for help?
Local offices may have products not listed here or they
can direct you to other government agencies with local information.
Follow this link for local USGS Web sites and USGS
contacts in your state.
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15. How do I report a problem with the data or with the
Publications Warehouse?
Please send comments, bug reports, suggestions for
improvements, questions, and any other communications to us via the form
at the Publications Warehouse Contact Us page. We appreciate your input and
will try to respond promptly to all messages requesting response.
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U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey