----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I am sending this both to MAPS-L and to the ARL-GIS
listserv. Please forgive the duplication.
 
Many of our users want to improve their electronic maps in
one way or another, e.g., to add elaborate graphics, or to
tack on lines or symbols that show the geographic extent of
a phenomenon of particular interest to them. This can be
done with both ArcView and the Sammamish software, but it's
awkward. The obvious solution is to export the map into a
drawing program and to work from there. I've resisted acquiring
a drawing program for the Map Collection, for several good
reasons, namely: [1] I don't really want people tying up the
computer any longer than necessary; [2] letting users make
maps from data in the Library seems like a straightforward
extension of our traditional services; letting them draw
freehand (so to speak) somehow gets beyond that; and [3] in
theory, users can always take their files elsewhere. But all
these reasons break down somewhat on close examination: [1]
many users spend a huge amount of time making maps already,
e.g., struggling to get an ArcView layout just right; [2]
users do drawings now, with a light table (admittedly not
very often); and [3] taking files away isn't so easy, when
they're 2 meg and users don't understand (or have access to)
ftp-ing, and anyway, many people can't easily get hold of
an appropriate drawing program (our computer
center would rather that people buy their own). The result
of this perhaps somewhat tortured reasoning is that I've
been wondering whether the time hasn't come to acquire a
good drawing program at the Map Collection.
 
I would be grateful for advice from colleagues who have
experience with drawing programs in a map library setting. I
am looking for a program able to work with .eps rather than
only with .bmp files (.eps files preserve the vector
components of maps; .bmp files have too low a resolution
to be much good). It would also be nice to find a program
that wouldn't be too hard to learn. Obvious candidates are
Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw (spelling?). Are there
others? Can anyone offer recommendations?
 
I'd also be grateful to hear from anyone who thinks this is
a terrible idea!
 
Thanks.
 
Chris Winters
University of Chicago Map Collection
 
 
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