How are USGS publication series scientific information products revised (if errors are identified after release) or superseded (if the information is later updated or expanded)? [082]

Considerations and steps for revising and superseding USGS publication series scientific information products are as follows.

• Revising: Although a few USGS publication series scientific information products are designed to be updated periodically with numbered versions, most products are not—the first version of most products should be the only version. Nevertheless, errors sometimes are discovered after publication and in many instances, need to be corrected. SPN editors can provide guidance for revising published products.

• Superseding: A USGS publication series scientific information product may, with Center Director concurrence based on justification provided by the author or other scientist associated with the study, be superseded by a new product published in the same series, in a different series, or outside the USGS. For example, a book or map released in the USGS Open-File Report series may be superseded by a book or map released in the USGS Scientific Investigations Report series, the USGS Scientific Investigations Map series, the USGS Techniques and Methods series, the USGS Circular series, or the USGS Professional Paper series. A notice is added to both the web citation page for the new product (if the new product is a USGS publication) and the citation page for the superseded product, each providing a link to the other page. Because superseded products have been officially released (published) by the USGS, may have been assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), and may have been cited in other publications, access to superseded online and print (if applicable) versions is maintained, and the products will continue to be retrievable through Publications Warehouse and USGS Library searches. SPN editors can provide guidance for superseding published products.

For more information or assistance regarding procedures for revising or superseding USGS publication series products, contact your local PSC Chief. For information about revising USGS data releases, refer to Guidance on Documenting Revisions to USGS Scientific Digital Data Releases | U.S. Geological Survey.