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About the Library
The Washington Geology Library was created in 1935 in the enabling legislation for the Division of Mines and Mining, one of the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources' predecessor agencies. The Division's library mandate, as stated in the Revised Code of Washington (43.30.610, formerly 43.30.138 and 43.21.070), is to "...collect and assemble a library pertaining to mining, milling and metallurgy of books, reports, drawings, tracings and maps and other information relating to the mineral industry and the arts and sciences of mining and metallurgy" and to "...preserve and maintain such collections and library open to the public for reference and examination..." Thus, the Division is required to have a collection on these subjects, open to the public, for reference use only. The library serves employees of all branches and agencies of government (federal, state, and local), geotechnical consultants, geology professors and students, and the public. The library is currently housed in the Room 173 of the Natural Resources Building in Olympia.
Besides collecting all items on the geology of Washington State, the Library maintains an online, searchable catalog — the Bibliography of Washington Geology.
Hours and Location
Please check here for the most up-to-date list of scheduled closures before visiting the facility.
Mon–Tue | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Wed | CLOSED |
Thu–Fri | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Except: |
Closed on State holidays |
Closed Sept. 8 – 18, 2009 Nov. 12, 2009 Dec. 24, 2009 |
1111 Washington Street SE, Room 173
P.O. Box 47007
Olympia, WA 98504-7007
[MAP AND DIRECTIONS]
Collection
The Washington Geology Library is the largest collection of material on Washington Geology in the world. Our collection includes:
- More than 30,000 titles on Washington geology
- More than 3,000 Washington topographic and geologic maps
- 7,000 reprints of journal articles
- Over 50,000 volumes about general geology, mining, and the geology of other states
- A comprehensive set of dissertations and theses related to Washington geology
- The entire set of publications of the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources
- An extensive collection of U.S. Geological Survey publications
- Historical topographic maps at 1:24,000, 1:62,500, and 1:125,000 scale
- The Washington coal mine map collection
- The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Library
- Environmental Impact Statements and watershed analyses
Policies
LENDING: Materials are not loaned from the collection.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN: Materials are not loaned from the collection.
PHOTOCOPYING: Library users may photocopy library materials on a commercial photocopy machine located in the library, 15 cents per page, self-service. Bring coins or your checkbook; the Library cannot accept credit cards. The photocopy machine will create 8 x 11, 8 x 14, and 11 x 17-inch pages, black and white.
SCANNING: Library users may bring their own scanners.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Library users may bring their own digital cameras.