--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 11:43:57 -0500
From: "Harry O. Davis" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Promotional Maps - Ephemera <fwd>
Sender: "Harry O. Davis" <[log in to unmask]>




In response to Goran Baamhielm"s inquiry about collecting ephemeral maps:

There are probably few U. S. libraries with separate or substantial
ephemeral departments and so the question posed is not usually a choice in
American libraries.  If ephemeral maps are held, they are likely to be held
in map collections or possibly in a special collections situation.  The
issue for U. S. libraries is more often one of "whether to keep," not one
of "where to keep."

It is my position that the current or future (potential) worth of ephemeral
maps is easily overlooked or discounted by map librarians.  My argument is
developed in a short paper entitled "Maps as Ephemera: The Collection Value
of Ephemeral Maps" that appeared in SLA/G&M NEWS AND VIEWS, Issue 1999/2,
May 1999, page 3.  (A copy is being forwarded separately to Goran
Baarnhielm and may be requested by others.)

Certainly one advantage in keeping ephemeral maps in a map collection is
for geographical identity.  Thus an ephemeral map of a locale can be found
(collocated) with other, non-ephemeral maps for the locale and all can be
viewed and considered together.  This approach remains valid when the
geography in question is a paramount attribute.  Should another attribute
be more important (e.g., if a map is part of a collection of an author's
papers), then location outside the map collection may be warranted.  In
general, however, as one patron said to me, "A map is a map is a map" and
maps generally belong together for their spatial information and value.









>Dear colleagues,
>As a legal deposit library, we receive all kinds of maps from printers.
>Promotional and other ephemeral maps normally go into the map collection
>when they are titled "Karta" = "Map". It has been questioned recently,
>if the Ephemera Department, which is rather important here, would be the
>proper place instead. So I would be much interested if other
>institutions with a similar situation would tell me how this is managed
>at their place.
>Sincerely
>
>Göran Bäärnhielm, Map Curator
>Kungl. biblioteket - The Royal Library - National Library of Sweden
>P.O. Box 5039, SE-102 41 Stockholm, Sweden
>Tel.: +46-8-463 4180. Fax: +46-8-463 4328.
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>--- End Forwarded Message ---



Harry O. Davis                       <> Phone:    618-453-2705
Map and Assistant Science Librarian  <> FAX:      618-453-2704
Morris Library / MS 6632
Southern Illinois University         <> Internet: [log in to unmask]
Carbondale, Illinois 62901







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