Guide to U.S. Map Resources - Softcover

Of The American Library Association, Map And Geography Round Table (MAGERT)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0810852683 ISBN 13: 9780810852686

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2005

Synopsis

More than fourteen years have passed since the second edition of the Map and Geography Round Table's Guide to U.S. Map Resources appeared in 1990. The third edition offers users a detailed snapshot of and guide to hundreds of map collections and cartographic resources in libraries and repositories throughout the nation.

Substantial changes have occurred within library map collections over the past decade and a half, and not surprisingly, the computer has been at the core of most of these innovations. Geographic information systems (GIS), the World Wide Web, email, Portable Document Format, data sets, the Internet and digitization have all played revolutionary roles in transforming libraries—and map collections in particular—over the past fifteen years. Today's librarian who works with maps is no longer limited by the contents of his or her own map and atlas collection. In many cases the librarian can turn to the Internet and locate a map or data set physically located in a library hundreds of miles away. However, this is not always the case.

But knowing which collection may contain a needed cartographic item can be a valuable first step in locating the item in question. As map collections everywhere continue to grow, new maps, digital files, aerial photos, and atlases become available to users every day. This detailed, timely, and reliable guide to these varied and still somewhat "hidden" cartographic collections—and their personnel—serves as a useful reference tool, especially in this digital age, when library online catalogues are immediately and readily accessible.

About this title

About the Author

Christopher J.J. Thiry is the Map Librarian at Arthur Lakes Library at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.

Reviews

Much has changed in the field of map resources in the more than 15 years since the second edition of this guide, a project of the Map and Geography Round Table of the American Library Association, was published. The format of the guide remains more or less the same, with the major portion devoted to a directory of collections, arranged by state, city, and institution. The number of collections has decreased from 974 to 564 because of a requirement that a collection must contain at least 1,000 maps or have maps, atlases, and related materials of significance. In addition to the usual directory information, e-mail addresses, Web sites, Internet access, and geographic information system (GIS) availability are included. Indexes for libraries or institutions and names include contact information for each listing. There is also a very useful special collection and subject index. Following the indexes is a listing of regional depository libraries and depository collections by government agencies. The editor, 46 regional editors, and Scarecrow Press have done a fine job of providing directory information that is still useful in the twenty-first century. Recommended for medium-sized to large public and academic libraries. Christine Bulson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810852683
• ISBN 13: 9780810852686
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 520
• Editor: Thiry Christopher J.J.