"I WANT MY DATA TO BE FOUND, AND USED" -- IMPROVING ACCESS TO PALEONTOLOGIC INFORMATION

For over one hundred years, USGS paleontologists have supplied essential biostratigraphic information to geologic mapping projects that range in focus from environmental to economic geology. Much of this valuable information was not included with the final map products, and remains unpublished. The paleontologic data, along with outcrop and borehole descriptions and measured sections, are an essential resource for geologic mapping and related sciences, both today and for the future. At present, these data are found in paper reports stored in filing cabinets. Clearly, their utility could be greatly expanded if they become more accessible, through the Web.

"I want my data to be found, and used." This sentiment is commonly expressed by retired paleontologists who anticipate that their data and interpretations can be useful for new science and mapping. Because much of this information is contained in their unpublished notes and records, we feel it is critically important to work closely with these scientists to identify the authoritative version of each piece of information, and then to present it on the Web, clearly and in a manner that preserves the author's intent. This can be done by providing scans of the paleontologist's records, supported by simple geographic and text searches. We have begun to do this, as a component of the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov). The NGMDB is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the state geological surveys, as a national archive of geoscience information that includes biostratigraphic data. When this information becomes available through the NGMDB, paleontologists and geologic mappers will be able to access the original biostratigraphic data more readily than is possible today, thereby expanding its use and value for science.