Library A Week

Illinois State Geological Survey Library

2010 no. 23

Library Profile

Library Name: Illinois State Geological Survey Library Location: 614 E. Peabody, Champaign, IL 61820 Type: Special Mission: The primary functions of the Illinois State Geological Library are to provide information and to collect materials to support Survey research programs, to collect materials on Illinois geology, and to make these resources available to the public. Library Website: http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/library.sht LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/qgn.html LTLS Member Since: 1978   An interview with Librarian, Anne Huber.

What is unique about your library?

Our library focuses on collecting documents and maps on Illinois geology and the surrounding states’ geology. We have a lot of documents from other state geological surveys, including Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky. We maintain a map room as well as the library.  Our map room has a Depression-era mural that was first displayed at the Century of Progress Exposition, in Chicago in 1933-34. It is titled “The Mineral Kingdom and Its Effect upon Society” and shows workers involved in industries tasks related to the natural resources of Illinois, including brick, tile, concrete, steel manufacture and construction, and coal mining.  In 1939 it was brought to the U of I and installed in our building.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

Our main goal is to collect and archive documents on Illinois geology and make it available to our researchers. Our big project currently, is retrospective cataloging and putting our holdings into WorldCat. We are open to the public and anyone can come and use our library, however, they cannot check out directly from our library. Materials can be requested through interlibrary loan.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

The five state surveys (Natural History Survey, Water Survey, Geological Survey, Archaeological Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center) recently formed the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability. I work closely with the other librarians from those survey libraries and work one morning at the Natural History Survey Library. We have also received grants from CARLI and the University Library to help with our retrospective cataloging project.

Tell us a story about your library.

We had a woman come from the New York State Museum. She was an archaeologist who was researching an archaeological site in Illinois. She knew people here and was familiar with our institution. It was fun helping her find the information she needed. In fact, we get researchers from all over the country who come to use our library and that is one of the things that makes my job fun.

If money were no object, what services would you add?

I would definitely expand the map room. We are always adding new maps. I would love to digitize our maps, field notes and publications. This would not only make them easier to share, but would also archive a copy in case anything happened to the original. It would also be nice to have more of a web presence so that our information would be more easily accessible.

What is popular in your library?

The Illinois State Geological Survey publications are very popular. Many people who visit the library are here to look at the maps and field notes.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your users?

We have an online catalog, and after our cataloging project is done, our records will be available in Voyager, as well as, WorldCat.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes