THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LIBRARY: PAST, PRESENT AND POSSIBLE FUTURES

The United States Geological Survey Library supports the information needs of USGS staff and the external community of geoscience information users—geologists, engineers, land use planners, public policy experts, environmental scientists, the general public, etc. As the largest geoscience library system in the US, the USGS Library provides access to unique collections of materials and international publications and plays a vital role in the informal network of geoscience libraries in the nation. Like many science/technology libraries in both the public and private sectors, the USGS Library has faced a number of challenges over its history. These include an evolving role within the parent organization, changing user needs, reductions in budget, rising costs of publications, and new technological applications to information management. Recent challenges have been significant for the Library's continued operation. There are a variety of possible responses open to libraries faced with change; some of these are described here. Whatever course the USGS Library takes in response to change, it seems clear that the Library will be a very different organization in the near future. The Library's transformation will have a significant impact on access to geoscience information for both the USGS and the public.