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Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:15:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Oversized maps, a summary
Sender: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Dear colleagues:
I want to thank the people who took time to respond to my query concerning
the storage of a collection of oversized maps. Several good ideas came
out of the responses, some of which will receive serious consideration. I
also want to thank the list and managers for such a service to be
provided. I've found the respondents on this listserv to be very generous
in taking queries seriously; they also respond in a very timely
fashion. Neither of these qualities prevail on some other professionally
oriented discussion lists. They make this one a real treasure!
A suggestion was made, more than once, that I had thought of
before making the query, to cut the maps and reinsert them into their
trimmed encapsulation. This would easily make them to fit the available
drawers. I have to consider this possibility, of course, for some good
reasons, but I also have to treat it as not a realistic option for me, for
equally good reasons. More than one respondent indicated the priority of
the information over the physical nature of the item being treated. If
this were a simple collection of maps, I would feel bound to agree with
the assertion. For general map collections, the contents have been
acquired because of the intellectual content, perhaps for other qualities
such as fine printing, good colors of inks, etc.
In the case of a collection of the sort I am dealing with here,
there is another factor that makes the physical nature of the maps as
important as their intellectual value. These are a special collection,
compiled by a scholar over his career of 50+ years in the subject of plant
geography. Certainly the content of the maps, and that all of them
represent this theme, is important. But that they are the maps that Dr
Kuchler collected, and that they are in the form that he used them, with
his notes, are just as important as the information they contain. I must
use the same consideration that an archivist or a museum curator would for
an oversized notebook or object that belonged to someone important in her
or his field. I would not want to change the physical nature of notebooks
compiled by Rachel Carson as she gathered information that ultimately
resulted in _Silent Spring_. The data is important in its own right,
true, but this is not just any data, it's HER data, and a researcher must
be able to see it as she had it to use. There is something of that
quality in this compilation of maps. To have them along with his landmark
bibliography matters to a small number of phytogeographers, even if the
larger number of users have greater interest in their content.
Another suggestion was the use of warehouse shelving. Such
shelving could accomodate virtually any size of item. In terms of
physical security, which is another reason I made the query, this is
possible if the shelves can be enclosed. The one who suggested this idea
said in his case his collection is 'closed stacks', which makes access
restriction feasible. The maps I am discussing here are a closed stacks
collection, as well. The oversized ones number about 75 at most. I have
available a room formerly used as a study carrell that can accomodate
sufficient shelving for this group of maps. A nice bonus is that this
room already houses a small archival carton of the 'undersized' maps of
the same collection. These maps are too small to go into the case drawers
for the majority of the collection. The carton could sit on a shelf in
this room with the larger maps that would, as it were, rejoin their
cousins.
Other suggestions were for furnishings that are actually too small
for this group of large maps, such as vertical plan files or hanging
files. Size of the maps, and the weight added by the Mylar encapsulation
make these less feasible. Plan files cannot take maps any larger than can
the Hamilton or Stacor map drawer. They require strength to pull the
files up, and the encapsulation would add considerable weight to the
files. Hanging files take even smaller sizes yet, and maps can fall from
the rods or clips. The damage that results makes this unattractive as an
option for a special collection such as this one.
Another option I had already considered is to frame the maps, and
treat them as a museum would handle storage of art work. I have discussed
this with the curator of collections at our art museum. There are several
options, one of which is a 'quick frame' that holds frame and protective
glass or plexiglass together with spring clips. This one seems simpler
than having to construct frames. The curator mentioned issues of weight
in handling the framed items. I've taken this caveat into
consideration. I cannot predict with certainty what choice we are likely
to make, but I am guessing that we will probably use the oversized shelves
solution.
Again, thanks to the listserv for posting my query, and to all
correspondents. I appreciate it very much.
Ken
___________________________
Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
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