International Polar Year 2007 - 2008 Resources on Polar Research in the NOAA Central Library Network

Abstract

Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the NOAA Central Library (NCL) networks over thirty NOAA libraries nationwide. NCL is considered the historically richest and most comprehensive multidisciplinary scientific collection in hydrographic surveying, oceanography, ocean engineering, atmospheric sciences (climatology and meteorology), meteorological satellite applications, living marine resources, geophysics, cartography, and mathematics in the United States, possibly in the Western Hemisphere. It incorporates holdings of NOAA's predecessor agencies, including the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Weather Bureau, and the Bureau of Fisheries. The collections reflect the history of these organizations, their scientific research, observations and data from 1820 to the present. The NOAA Library Network collections are unique: over 40% of the items in NOAALINC (the online catalog) and their manual catalogs are not found anywhere else. Unique polar research materials include historic and current reports from various polar expeditions, with research and observations from both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The presence of these unique and historical resources in NOAA prompted the Library to participate in 4th International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 activities. Many unique and historically valuable NOAA polar research documents and scientific data, in the forms of digital videos, still images, and datasets, have been entered into the NOAALINC, the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Ocean Archive System (OAC), and other oceanographic information catalogs and databases. This was possible thanks to the Library's collaboration with several NOAA projects and programs, including the Video Data Management System (VDMS), Climate Data Modernization Program (CDMP), and NODC Cruise Report Program.