-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Are Paper Map Relevant?
Date:   Mon, 15 Mar 2004 18:02:50 -0500
From:   David McQuillan <[log in to unmask]>




The issue of our future has been on my mind for some time.  I have had
recent discussions with other map librarians and others with an interest
in paper maps.  Areas of our profession have strong advocates,
historical maps and digital (GIS), but we with hundreds of thousands of
paper maps are being systematically pushes aside.  What is our future?

We last met as group at the Library of Congress in 1993 for the Congress
of Cartographic Information Specialist Associations (CCISA).  That was
over 10 years ago. Since that time many map libraries have disappeared
and their collections given away or moved to off-site storage.  As one
advocate for our profession put it "map librarians have been reduced to
GIS technicians for faculty and patrons."

The Geography and Map Division of the Special Libraries Association
recently became a section of the Social Science Division.  After over 60
years as the home of our profession, it could no longer stand alone.
The Map and Geography Round Table of the American Library Association in
facing challenges of it own.  Let us not forget the Geography and Map
Libraries Section of the International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions.  They are seeing the same problems
world-wide and suffer from lack of support from the United States and
overseas map libraries.

As chair of the IFLA Geography and Map Libraries Section, I call upon
SLA and ALA, who are members of IFLA, to set aside a portion of their
time at their upcoming annual conferences to discuss the future of our
profession.  WAML, ACMLA, NEMO, NACIS, and others should consider
joining SLA and ALA in IFLA membership.  Go to www.ifla.org
<http://www.ifla.org> for information on fees and procedures for
professional associations to join IFLA.

I am setting aside time at the IFLA World Library Congress in Buenos
Aires, Argentina this August to consider the results of the SLA and ALA
discussions, with the idea of holding a special meeting in the Spring of
2005.  Please forward individual comments to me and Maps-L.  This
question needs to be discussed and effectively answered:

                                                 "Are Paper Maps Relevant?"





David C. McQuillan
Map Librarian
Thomas Cooper Library
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC  29201

Phone:  (803) 777-4723
Fax:  (803) 777-4661
E-mail:  [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>