-------- Original Message --------
Subject: BL Georeferencer
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:33:17 -0500
From: KC Kowal <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
CC: KC Kowal <[log in to unmask]>


I wanted to let my map colleagues know that yesterday we released a new set
of historic scanned maps online for public georeferencing. We are using the
Klokan Technologies Georeferencer tool for crowdsourcing the task.
http://www.bl.uk/maps/

Content
In contrast to our previous, UK-only releases, the maps newly online for
this project are of places worldwide. This will require greater reliance by
users on online gazetteers and other web mapping tools to locate unfamiliar
toponymns.
Most of the maps are 19-20th c sheets in topographic series. Nearly all are
reader selections - reproductions ordered by visitors in the Maps Reading
Room - which have been repurposed.

Benefits
As you already know, georeferencing extends the usability and findability
of maps, and allows visualisation in new ways using popular geospatial
tools. The metadata that is obtained is essential to enable these maps to
move in digital spheres; one immediate application is inclusion in the
search portal Old Maps Online (http://www.oldmapsonline.org/) which offers
geographical searching of online historic maps from numerous map
collections worldwide.

Crowdsourcing
Nearly 70% of maps have been completed now, and await the review stage.
There are maps of far-flung places and others with meagre information, so I
suspect those may be the last to go, if they can be identified at all! The
true test of the public's abilities and commitment will be in that last ten
percent, I think.


Kimberly C. Kowal
Lead Curator, Digital Mapping
The British Library
96 Euston Rd.
London NW1 2DB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7849