Resources for Collection Management
How does USGS manage its geological collections?
Find information about how USGS manages its geological and geophysical collections, and resources for developing collections management plans.
Managing geological collections is complex, but important.
Managing geological and geophysical collections requires careful planning, consistent documentation and ongoing stewardship to ensure that samples remain findable, usable and scientifically valuable over time.
This page provides information about how the USGS manages geological and geophysical collections, as a resource for others seeking to manage their own collections.
About the USGS Collections Management Policy
In 2019, the USGS Policy on Scientific Working Collections was published as an Instructional Memorandum (IM CSS 2019-01) to establish the policies governing the documentation and management of USGS collections.
We integrate the Policy, Policy Implementation Guide and Registry of Scientific Collections to standardize USGS collections management and make collections aligned with the FAIR principles: findability, accessibility, interoperability and reuse. For more information on USGS collections management and policy, please contact: geologicalmaterialsrepository@usgs.gov.
USGS Resources