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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 18:09:47 -0400 (AST)
From: James Boxall <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: #38 continued <fwd>
Sender: James Boxall <[log in to unmask]>


I'd like to first of all thank David for sugesting to us all to reflect
upon the Keller article. Secondly, I think David has said something very
useful and I dare not try to add to it. That is not to say other comments
have not also been instructive; they have, and I believe everyone is
concerned for what we do and what will happen in our futures.


And yet, I have a couple of things I'd like to put out "here" as it might
be interesting in light of the CP38 "debate". First of all, I know Peter
Keller fairly well. His views have many meanings or "reasons" behind them.
And I certainly know how he views what can be done in map libraries. What
has surpised me is some comments or views about what we should or can do
(or, conversely, what we must not do). I think David eludes to this in his
well thought out response in that some of "us" may actually become
paper-only out of choice. If we can do that, and if users still find
value, then ok. That's part of the issue which Peter has tried to get at -
each collection in relation to its users and "situation" must be viewed as
unqiue, and what can be done through that collection will be based upon
all those factors that currently limit (or expand) our opportunities.

I enjoyed some of the interesting views expressed when I sent out that
list of  questions for an interview (timing was ironic?). The interview
went well, and map libraries, librarians, curators, GIScientists...all got
equal billing and fitted into the video. The interview, don't forget, was
for students from grades 7 through 12, so a heavy duty discussion about
the subtle differences between disciplines and professions was a tad out
of the scope :-)......but.....

In reading David's reply, it struck me as rather interesting that today,
just by chance, i'm finishing another research grant proposal...realted to
GIS and geospatial data (policy and technical issues side by side)....
partners in the proposal include GIS firms, government, other academic
units and universities, and non-profits....using a research approach
coming out of the digital library field (borrowing on some successes of
colleagues at UCSB :-).......some of the research proposed deals with
datums, vertical and horizontal positional accuracy, problems of
conflation, other issues related to merging/using disparate data sources,
and the "usual suspects" (at least if you're Canadian :-)...licensing,
crown copyright, cost recovery, and other barriers to using geospatial
data. Thinking back to how some folks worried about a map "librarian"
being called a cartographer....what would such research make me now ?
:-) (sorry...couldn't resist :-) :-) :-)

but seriously...i would urge more map lirarians and curators and etc.
to get out there and be part of the research process.....it is one in a
series of tools at out disposal to make our case and improve access,
collections, and use.....not to mention help show that there is a really
interesting future...and a positive one. (it also helps because at least
in my case i can phone peter keller and say "hey peter, want to
collaborate on a map library research project" :-) :-)

thanks david, and everyone....enjoyable topics (soon to be added to
various association board meeting agendas! at least it was for ACMLA)

:-)
cheers
james





James Boxall
Curator/Head
Map and Geospatial Information Collection
Killam Library
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada   B3H 4H8
902-494-3757 (tel)
902-494-2062 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
magic.library.dal.ca

Immediate Past-President, Association of Canadian
Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA)     www.acmla.org
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