USGS Library locations are open to visitors Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm local and other times by appointment; closed Federal holidays. Contact the library at library@usgs.gov to set up an appointment.
USGS Library locations will be closed for the Holidays from November 27-28, 2025, and December 24, 2025 through January 2, 2026. Virtual service requests continue with email to library@usgs.gov. We look forward to serving you in the New Year.
USGS Library locations will be closed for the Holidays from November 27-28, 2025, and December 24, 2025 through January 2, 2026. Virtual service requests continue with email to library@usgs.gov. We look forward to serving you in the New Year.
USGS Library
Authorized by Congress in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey Library is recognized as one of the world’s leading Earth and natural science libraries, providing services, collections, and expertise essential to the USGS mission.
Welcome to USGS Library!
Welcome to USGS Library!
USGS Library has locations in Reston, VA, Denver, CO, and Moffett Field, CA. Each location is open to USGS employees and the public.
Ask a Librarian
Ask a Librarian
Each library location has expert reference librarians available to assist with research and provide answers to reference questions received by phone, fax, or in person. To ask for reference assistance by E-mail, Ask a Librarian at library@usgs.gov.
Quick Links
Quick Links
Use these links to access library resources.
News
USGS Library commemorated the 45th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens with a special exhibit
USGS Library commemorated the 45th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens with a special exhibit
The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center
The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center
USGS Library Celebrates 50th Anniversary of National Center with Special Exhibition
USGS Library Celebrates 50th Anniversary of National Center with Special Exhibition
Publications
Minerals, lands, and geology for the common defence and general welfare, Volume 4, 1939-1961: A history of geology in relation to the development of public-land, federal science, and mapping policies and the development of mineral resources in the United Minerals, lands, and geology for the common defence and general welfare, Volume 4, 1939-1961: A history of geology in relation to the development of public-land, federal science, and mapping policies and the development of mineral resources in the United
The fourth volume of the comprehensive history of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is titled “Minerals, Lands, and Geology for the Common Defence and General Welfare—Volume 4, 1939‒1961.” The title is based on a passage in the preamble of the U.S. Constitution. The late Mary C. Rabbitt (1915‒2002), a geophysicist who served with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (1948‒1949) and the...
On-line access to geoscience bibliographic citations On-line access to geoscience bibliographic citations
On-line geoscience bibliographic citations and access points to citations are exponentially increasing as commercial, non-profit, and government agencies worldwide publish materials electronically. On-line bibliographic tools capture cited works, and open access content allows for freely obtained citations and documents. For this newsletter, citations from the numerous journals and books...
Libraries program Libraries program
The U.S. Congress authorized a library for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1879. The library was formally established in 1882 with the naming of the first librarian and began with a staff of three and a collection of 1,400 books. Today, the USGS Libraries Program is one of the world's largest Earth and natural science repositories and a resource of national significance used by...