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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]>


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  People need to know they have an outdated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
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-----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?


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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charts and go sailing using them, then perhaps tell him they may be out
of date and direct him to a map shop (he won't have passed his boat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as they are all out of date, and the books need to be labelled on every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
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