CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTING PHYSICAL SAMPLE COLLECTIONS IN GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS (Invited Presentation)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recognizes the importance of making physical sample collections discoverable and available to researchers and the public, and is actively working to describe collections in the USGS National Digital Catalog (ScienceBase). The Geological Collections Management System (GCMS, USGS Circular 1410) was published in 2015 to provide scientists and collection managers guidance on best practices throughout the entire inorganic physical sample management process. The development of this document illuminated numerous challenges for all stakeholders and provided a venue for discussion and recommendations for solutions. The USGS Collections Steering Committee is now focused on developing a similar policy for Biological Collections Management (BCM). Based on lessons learned from the GCMS, we are taking a more agile approach and closely linking the recommendations to the USGS Data Management lifecycle to establish an open sample/ open data solution. The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program of the USGS works with state geological surveys to provide them resources to complete sample and data rescue and preservation projects. Together we are collecting and teaching best practices in collections management with a focus on exposure of these valuable resources However, there are many existing examples and the collections management community would continue to benefit by sharing knowledge and experiences. Here I will discuss challenges, solutions and suggestions for areas of improvement for the management and promotion of USGS collections.