2020 FDL Conference: Digging Up the Soil Surveys: A Case Study for Inventorying Historic Government Documents

Title: Digging Up the Soil Surveys: A Case Study for Inventorying Historic Government Documents

Speakers:

• Jennifer Kirk, Government Information Librarian, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University
• Helen Smith, Agricultural Sciences Librarian, Life Sciences Library, Penn State University
• Sandra Weingart, Agricultural Sciences & Animal Health Librarian, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University
• Anne Hedrich, Agriculture, Engineering, & Science Librarian, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University

Description:

Over 5,000 soil surveys were distributed in tangible formats to FDLP depositories from 1900 to 2005. This presentation shares outcomes from projects at two research institutions to identify, locate, and provide access to historic Soil Surveys and their associated maps from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA). The project created a soil survey inventory for libraries’ use, to be adaptable to various shelving and description methods. The inventory can be used as a finding aid or to review collections to prepare offers, create needs lists, or become FDLP Preservation Stewards. Presenters will also share processes for identifying digital versions. This discussion may be useful to FDLP coordinators who wish to identify steps for conducting an inventory of historic publications, learn more about soil survey publications, or discuss preservation and stewardship of historic materials.