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The Montana Bureau
of Mines and Geology provides extensive advisory, technical, and informational
services about Montana's geological, mineral, energy, and water resources
to the public and private sectors; it also is legislatively mandated
to communicate and disseminate the findings of research conducted within
the organization. The primary responsibility of the Information Services
Division (ISD) is to enable adherence to that mandate. The division
head serves as the public information officer for the Bureau.
The goals of the Information
Services Division are to provide efficient editorial and publication services
for Bureau documents, and to disseminate these documents as printed publications
through the Bureau website and by other formats that may be identified
as feasible and appropriate. Staff members also respond to customer requests
for information by identifying and providing appropriate publications or
other data sources as necessary.
Customer
Base
The Bureau responds
to requests for information on Montana geology and hydrogeology from
a surprisingly diverse range of people including: artists (jewelers,
potters, etc.); builders; geologists; local, county, State and Federal
agencies; miners; researchers; recreationists (amateur gold prospectors,
campers, fishermen, gardeners, hikers, hunters, rock hounds, etc.);
real estate agencies; students; schools; and other universities and
colleges. Information may be supplied as Bureau publications, USGS
topographic or thematic maps, or as referrals to Bureau researchers
or other agencies that can provide the necessary data. These materials
are used for administration, geological studies, genealogical studies,
search and rescue, spelunking, teaching, thesis and dissertation studies,
tourism, water-well potential and location, and zoning.
Division
Organization
The Information Services
Division comprises four sections: Editorial, Cartography, Information
Systems, and Publication Sales. All sections interact daily with a
variety of professionals, including but not limited to researchers,
printers, publishers, State and Federal agencies, and the private sector.
Brief descriptions of each section are as follows.
Editorial
The editorial staff is responsible for the scientific editing, desktop
publishing, typesetting, and pre-press production of a wide variety
of publications. We are experienced in all aspects
of electronic and traditional publishing, including performing all
levels of editing and production, and are proficient in the latest,
state-of-the-art production software. Staff members help produce
research, education, and outreach publications that address such areas
as mineral resources, geologic mapping, petroleum geology, watershed
characterization, energy education, remote sensing, and GIS for technical
and non-technical audiences.
Cartography
The cartographic staff provides experience in the research, compilation,
design and preparation of maps, technical illustrations, scientific publications,
exhibits, and
presentations.
Information Systems
The information systems section holds our link to the outside world
via the Internet. Our webmaster develops, deploys, and manages the
daily operation of the Bureau's World Wide Web Information System by
acquiring, compiling, and maintaining graphical hypertext information;
directing database maintenance activities; improving user access to
the data; and creating better data distribution methods.
Publication Sales
The Bureau's sales office provides service and information via mail,
phone, fax, and e-mail. It is responsible for the Bureau's media relations
and also for the dissemination of informational materials. In addition
to distributing its own publications, the Bureau serves as an agent
for the U.S. Geological Survey in the sale of geologic and topographic
maps of Montana. Exchange materials received at the Bureau are deposited
in the Montana Tech library, where they serve as a ready reference
to Bureau personnel, Tech faculty, staff, and students, and Montana citizens.