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Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 16:34:43 -0800
From: Lori Sugden <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: CP #38
Sender: Lori Sugden <[log in to unmask]>


Hi, all, from the UVic Map Library.  It's been very illuminating to hear
the responses to Peter's article.  As a faculty member of the Map Library
Advisory Committee, Peter has for years offered constructive criticism and
feedback, and has looked for the vision of what a map library is and can
be, while as an instructor encouraging excellence in cartography and the
creation and use of digital geographic information.

UVic's map library was moved from the geography department into the "big"
library last year, when its space was pre-empted.  In the initial phases of
planning the move, a comment was made (not by a geographer or librarian)
that we likely wouldn't need much space, because all the maps must be
digital by now, and the paper collection obsolete!  This, for a collection
of about 65,000 maps and 127,000 airphotos.  This is a small, small-budget
collection, and staffing is creatively shared with another area of the
library, to open the collection on evenings and weekends.  We have one
workstation, and will try to participate in the exciting new Canadian
initiatives such as expanded access to federal digital mapping and the DMTI
files, as best we can.

Peter sees the danger for the "little guys" of falling through the cracks.
This is a danger we in libraries have seen at every level since the advent
of computers, and with them the opportunity/threat of ever-expanding "need"
for technological change and innovation which provides greater access to
more and more information at a price many less wealthy institutions and
people cannot afford.  As librarians and library workers we work hard to
provide our communities with access to the information, even with copyright
and licensing agreements that make that access even more expensive because
of the time and money needed to deal with the system.  I feel concern that
the alternative to cooperation is an elitist user-pay scenario.

We're all doing the best we can.  Maybe that's not good enough.






Lori Sugden, Map Curator,
University of Victoria Libraries,
McPherson Library - Map Library,
P.O. Box 1800 STN CSC
Victoria, BC  V8W 3H5
email: [log in to unmask]
phone: (250) 721-7356   fax: (250) 721-8235
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