-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: raised relief maps
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 14:08:07 -0500
From: April Carlucci <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Yale Univ Library
To: 'Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum' <[log in to unmask]>
Dear Robert
No one seems to have replied yet about raised relief maps.
I've seen various types of these maps in several large map collections.
They can be as simple as the modern plastic versions which look to all
intents and purposes like 'bumpy' topo quads, or as complicated as
landscape representations made of wood and plaster (with little trees
and buildings on them) that take up a whole room.
I've not had to face the question of discarding them, as I've been
fortunate enough to spend most of my time as a map librarian/curator in
collections that never threw anything out. It would seem there are three
main issues:
Access: are these maps included in your catalog? If they aren't, how
will users know they are there in order to ask to see them? It's
unfortunate to justify discarding something because no one has ever used
it when the users never knew it was there in the first place. This is
certainly not unique to your collection, although fortunately this is
decreasing as more maps are cataloged and included in OPACs, etc.
Retrieval/replacement: These maps are always fragile and require careful
handling to get them to a place the user can consult them and back into
storage without damage. Even the small plastic versions will crack as
the plastic becomes more brittle over time. Sometimes the care needed
discourages use, either by the staff who don't want to go to the
trouble, or by the users who don’t want to put staff to the trouble. A
lot depends on your general policies. If you have materials that are
retrieved by staff anyway, these simply fall into the category of more
of the same, but gently please! If not, it's an issue.
Storage: Depending on the map, they can sometimes be stored in the
drawer of a map cabinet (although not stacked, so one map per drawer,
which eats up a lot of space), or lying on the top of the case; they can
be stored in Mylar sleeves and hung, usually in a specially-constructed
housing; or they can be stored horizontally on oversized shelves (more
the warehouse type than the library type). This last often requires
additional protection, such as a box. This is an additional expense to
consider. I've seen the hanging Mylar sleeves approach at the Library of
Congress G&M, for relatively small and new 'bumpy' topo quads; it looked
impressive. I've seen the other approaches in several places. All
depends on the size and fragility of the material.
Balancing out these 'issues' is the unique and quite fascinating
perspective you get on a landscape when using raised relief maps. It's a
wonderful way to see the land in three dimensions, second only to a
window seat in a low flying airplane!
I would suggest you investigate how your library came to have them in
the first place--were they acquired for a specific reason? And are there
any potential uses for them now--if people knew you had them? If you do
decide to discard them, please offer them to others collections before
they go in the bin. They are a bit of a luxury, but a really wonderful one!
Hope this helps.
April
April Carlucci
Catalog Librarian for Maps
Yale University Library
-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 4:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: raised relief maps
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: raised relief maps
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:56:33 -0500
From: Robert Dalton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
The maps collection that reports to me has a rather eclectic collection of
raised relief maps. They are generally from the 1940s - 1960s and cover
parts of Europe, Japan, Korea, Southeast U.S., and Northeast U.S.
As best that I can determine, these are AMS Series 1301P, 1302P, L506P, and
L552P, and DMA Series V501P.
Except for one time recently, I don't believe anyone has asked specifically
for these in recent years. Our collection policy does not specify that we
have them, and further, some are in poor physical condition.
I am interested in any thoughts any of you have about the wisdom of
retaining these. If you have such materials, are they used in your
locations? How much and for what purposes? By whom, if you know that? If
you had some and discarded them, what was your rationale? If you have
retained any or all that you had once, what was your rationale?
Thanks in advance.
Robert
Robert S. Dalton
Reference Librarian and Assistant Head
Reference Dept., Davis Library
CB# 3922, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919-962-1151
Fax: 919-962-5537
Email: [log in to unmask]
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