Who We Are and What We Do
The SPN (part of the Office of Communications and Publishing) is made up of professional text and geologic map editors, visual information specialists, cartographers, electronic publishing specialists, and other publishing experts who work closely with USGS authors and their collaborators to ensure that USGS series publications are accurate, objective, and accessible.
Per the USGS Fundamental Science Practices, the SPN edits and produces all USGS series publications, from Scientific Investigation Reports to Fact Sheets. In addition, the SPN can provide editing and illustration assistance for journal articles or other external publications, as well as help with writing, cartography, GIS, web design, poster production, PowerPoint preparation, geonarratives, and other digital and print publishing tasks.
Products are tailored to the needs of a wide range of customers, partners, and stakeholders, including Federal, State, and local government officials; community planners; resource managers; representatives and researchers in industry, business, and academia; as well as the general public.
Beyond performing publishing work for the Bureau, the SPN implements and maintains publishing guidance, policies, and technologies to help ensure the quality, consistency, and usability of USGS series publications.
For assistance with their publishing needs, USGS authors should contact their local Publishing Service Center (PSC) Chief for guidance and support. Reaching out to the PSC Chief early in the planning stages of a new information product can help achieve better quality and efficiency in the publishing process. (USGS employees can find their PSC Chief and other publishing guidance by navigating to the Publishing page from the USGS internal site, @TheCore.)