================================================
MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
================================================
TO: Maps-L
FRO: Angie
DA: thursday, July 28, 2005
Just out of curiousity - how many map librarians have had to handle
litigation dealing with inaccurate maps? I've never heard of such a
thing ever actually happening. I can understand our willingness to
stamp maps to protect the producer (the Govt.) and in order to ensure
that we continue to get free maps - but I've never heard of the library
or librarians themselves ever being held liable.
-a-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANGIE COPE
American Geographical Society Library
2311 E. Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/AGSL/index.html
Hours: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm
[log in to unmask]
(414) 229-6282
(800) 558-8993 (US TOLL FREE)
(414) 229-3624 (FAX)
Map Librarian, MAPS-L Moderator
http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/AGSL/welcome_to_mapsl%20forum.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
================================================
MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
================================================
Subject: RE: MAPS-L: Library liability?
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005
From: Diaz, Carlos <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Diaz, Carlos wrote:
>
> Brendan,
>
>
> Here at our government documents depository, we supersede all nautical charts with the current edition except for those pertaining to Washington State. We keep all edtions for historical purposes and we do have a stamp that says that. People need to know they have an outdated map on their hand so they don't make the wrong decisions pertaining to navigation. We try to be ubiquitous with the stamp on each historical nautical chart so that it is clear that it is not to be used for navigational purposes. It certainly prevents any possible litigation from a patron as well. For the other maps like the aerials and aeronautical charts, etc. we only keep the most current one.
>
>
> Carlos A. Diaz
> Government Documents/Maps
> The Evergreen State College
> Olympia, Washington
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Angie Cope, AGSL
> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 6:14 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: MAPS-L: Library liability?
>
>
> ================================================
> MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
> ================================================
>
> Subject: Library liability?
> Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005
> From: Brendan Whyte <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Steve,
>
> If you start down that line then every map (not just nautical charts)
> needs two large red lines drawn across it the moment you add it to your
> collection, and legal disclaimers placed in large letters across the
> map! OR better yet, make anyone entering the building sign a waiver!
> Any 'sailor' trying to xerox sailing charts in his library rather than
> buy the latest from a chandlery is Darwinian selection waiting to
> happen. Ditto air charts. If a patron mentions he's going to copy your
> charts and go sailing using them, then perhaps tell him they may be out
> of date and direct him to a map shop (he won't have passed his boat
> licence exam anyhow). But the idea of labelling every chart with a
> disclaimer in case you are found liable is laughable. You'd better label
> every map and book in the entire library, not just the map collection,
> as they are all out of date, and the books need to be labelled on every
> page (can't assume the patron will read the fineprint near the copyright
> statement and cataloguing data). Better also Include large red lines
> across all your irreplaceable 15th century portolans too in case Cunard
> Line decides to cut costs and send its captain in for a xerox of a chart
> to save money.
>
> We don't buy every new edition of charts, nor update them, although we
> do get the Notices to Mariners. We let patrons decide what is suitable
> for their use. If they ask for a chart of the harbour we pull one out.
> It is up to them to check dates etc. If anyone tried to sue us because
> we didn't supply them with the latest information, they would never find
> a lawyer who'd take them seriously.
>
>
>
>>The only reason to keep old nautical charts is for historical purposes
>>as requested by historical researchers. Old, superceded versions of
>>sailing charts should never be used in lieu of the most recent editions,
>>and in fact their use could endanger the user and possibly make the
>>library liable. Any older charts that you keep you should plainly label
>>with something like "for historical information purposes only" and even
>>the most recent editions should be labeled with something like "for
>>informational purposes only" since even a chart alone isn't enough
>>information to base safe sailing upon.
>>
>>We landlubbers here in Oklahoma keep only the most recent edition--it
>>simply makes for less worry.
>>
>>S. Beleu
>>Federal Depository Librarian/Maps and GIS Librarian
>>Oklahoma Department of Libraries
>
>
> Dr Brendan Whyte
> Assistant Map Curator
> ERC Library
> University of Melbourne
> Vic 3010
> AUSTRALIA
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> --
>
|
