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Guide to the Publications of the
in the Walter Geology Library, the University of Texas Libraries , UT Austin
Compiled by Dennis Trombatore
rev.1/98
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The U.S. Geological Survey publishes results of research in several major publication and map series and some less well known series, all of which are in various locations in the Geology Library. Certain items may also be in some other library units, but the Geology Library is the "home" for USGS publications, with the exception of topographic maps outside Texas, which are in the PCL Map Collection.
Revised USGS Series
The USGS recently revised its series. The series resulting from this change are designed to accommodate a broad range of research topics in biology, geology, geography, and hydrology. The new series have collapsed into the following titles:
Circular, Data Series, Fact Sheet, General Information Product, Professional Paper, Open-File Report, Scientific
Investigations Map, Scientific Investigations Report, and Techniques and Methods.
The following titles have been discontinued and absorbed into the revised series:
Biological Science Report, Bulletin, Digital Data Series, Geologic Investigations Series (I-maps), Hydrologic Investigations Atlas (HA-maps), Information and Technology Report, Miscellaneous Field Studies Map (MF-maps), Techniques of Water Resources Investigations (TWRI) , Topographic Instructions, and Water Resources Investigations (WRI).
Finding USGS Publications
The vast majority of these items CANNOT BE LOCATED BY AUTHOR OR TITLE IN THE ONLINE CATALOG. Instead they are shelved in numerical order in their series. In order to find USGS documents, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THE SERIES AND VOLUME NUMBER of the item you want.
The best way to locate a USGS publication by Author, Title, Series, or Subject is to consult GeoRef (now available to UT Austin students, faculty and staff on the University of Texas Libraries ' Web page), the Bibliography and Index of Geology, the New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey*, the Guide to USGS geologic and Hydrologic Maps, the Bibliography and Index of Texas Geology, or the Bibliography of Fossil Vertebrates. These bibliographies and indexes are essential tools, and are readily available in the Geology Library reference area.
* (also contains purchase/ordering information)
The three primary USGS publications are:
Professional Papers : This is the premier publication series of the USGS. An entire set is available in the Geology Library at:
*QE 75 P9 (abbreviated as: PP or Prof. P.)
Bulletins : This series, generally briefer and including smaller scale studies, is complete in the Geology Library at:
*QE 75 B9 (abbreviated as: B or Bull.)
Circulars : The equivalent of a technical note or brief communication series, a complete set of these can be found in the Geology Library at:
*QE 75 C5 (abbreviated as: C or Circ.)
There are also three major hydrologic series:
Water Supply Papers : These are the primary publications, and a full set is available at:
*TC 801 U2 (abbreviated as: WSP)
Water Resource Investigations : These are smaller scale reports and technical reports, intended to be timely and of mainly regional interest. They began to be widely distributed in the early 1980's, but not every WRI is available in the Geology Library, and a few are on microfiche. Numbering begins with the year, followed by an inventory number (eg: 84-4035). The paper copies are shelved together at:
*GB 701 W375 (abbreviated as: WRI or WRIR)
Techniques of Water Resource Investigations : This is a series of surface and groundwater metholodology reports. It is shelved at:
*TC 177 U57a (Bk#,Ch.#) (abbreviated as: TWRI)
Other USGS publications:
Journal of Research of the USGS: This title was short lived (1973-1978). It is shelved at:
*QE 1 U5585 Geology Library
Open File Reports: These reports are generally work-in-progress, and usually have not cleared full USGS review. They are intended to allow public access to USGS funded research in a timely manner. Numbering includes the year and an inventory designator (eg: 84-4042). Prior to 1981, these reports were not in general distribution.
The Geology Library has some pre-1981 reports, and should have most published since that date. Almost all Open File Reports are on microfiche in the microfiche cabinets, Geology Library. These items have no UTCAT entries or other indexing or cataloging.
The Geology Library has film/fiche readers, but no printer. Microfiche and microfilm may be checked out for copying. Fiche and film printers are available in Engineering, PCL, & Life Sciences Libraries.
Some Open File Reports are available in paper copy, especially those from the USGS Austin office, as well as some donated items. These paper copies will be in UTCAT, but microfiche Open File Reports are not in UTCAT. (abbreviated as: OFR)
USGS Maps:
The USGS publishes most of its maps in a number of series.
Topographic Series
Topographic maps of Texas are available in Geology and in PCL.
All other topographic maps of the U.S. and foreign countries are at PCL Map Collection.
The Geology Library Texas Topo maps are in map cases in the SouthWest corner of the Tobin Map Collection, Geology Library. (map of the Walter Library)
Geologic Series are searchable in the online catalog by author and title, and by the call number MAP USGS (series) (#). The series names are as follows, and are folded in envelopes in the large bank of green lateral file cabinets (on the right as you enter from the reading room) in the Tobin Map Collection, Geology Library: Geologic Series MAP USGS (series) (#)
| A | Antarctic Research Program | |
| CP | Circumpacific (taken over from AAPG, publisher of maps 1-34 in this series) | |
| C | Coal Investigations | |
| GQ | Geological Quadrangle | |
| GP | Geophysical Investigations | |
| HA | Hydrologic Investigations Atlas | |
| HUM | Hydrologic Unit Maps | |
| I | Miscellaneous Geological Investigations | |
| MF | Miscellaneous Field Studies | |
| MR | Mineral Investigations Resources | |
| OC | Oil and Gas Investigations Charts | |
| OM | Oil and Gas Investigations Maps |
Major Historical Series: The modern USGS began publishing in 1878. Prior to that several Geologic and Geographic Surveys were commissioned by Congress. If you need more information about these earlier publications, please ask the library staff for help.
USGS Yearbook continues this publication, and is shelved at:
* QE 76 U54a Geology Library
Geological Atlas of the United States was published in the years prior to WWI. A full set is in map cases in the Tobin Map Collection near the U.S. whole and regions cases. Caution: these materials are very brittle. Field edition copies are at:
*557.3 Un3g Geology Library
Monographs series includes v.1-55 at:
*QE 75 M7 Geology Library
Mineral Resources of the United States was published in several formats from 1883 to 1931, shelved at:
*557.3 Un3mi Geology Library
(Note: These are located off-site in the Library Storage Facility and require a green card to be filled out at the library. These items take 3 to 5 days to retrieve. See this page for more details)
Ordering U.S. Geological Survey Products
or by mail:
Please note that exact prepayment in U.S. funds is required.
To confirm price and availability, call:
1-800-435-7627 (8 AM - 4PM, Denver time, M-F)
The USGS will now take credit card orders by faxing the order forms you can print from their web site to: (303) 202-4693
There is a US Geological Survey Division in Austin at:
U.S. Geological Survey 8027 Exchange Drive, Austin, TX 78754 Phone (512) 927-3500 Fax (512) 927-3590
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