-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        development of stolen map database
Date:   Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:15:39 -0500
From:   Joel Kovarsky <[log in to unmask]>
To:     Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>


*STOLEN MAPS DATABASE ANNOUNCEMENT
*

This message is being posted to several relevant discussion lists.

The International Antiquarian Mapsellers Association (IAMA:
www.antiquemapdealers.com <http://www.antiquemapdealers.com/>) is
funding the development of a stolen map database. We hope to have a
working prototype available by mid-April 2008. The technical elements of
the database are being managed by ammonet (www.ammonet.com
<http://www.ammonet.com/>).

The basic details are:

· The database will be free of charge, fully searchable, international
in scope, and accessible using individual usernames and passwords.

· There will be a standardized submission form, which can be completed
online, for posting theft details. This form will be reviewed prior to
“going live” in the online database. (NOTE: Please contact me off-list
for a copy of the form headings--Joel.Kovarsky[at]embarqmail.com. We
realize that all details will not be present in each circumstance, but
the inclusion of copy-specific details will be essential.)

· Although full and open contact details will be encouraged, there will
be a mechanism for third party contact for those requiring anonymity.

· Links to online images of the stolen items will be encouraged, or an
image may be uploaded directly to the database. The limitations of
resolution within the database will initially be 1200 x 1200 pixels.
(NOTE: This level of resolution does not require expensive photographic
equipment.)

We recognize that this project will evolve over time, but sincerely hope
that the database will help with the increasingly publicized problem of
early map theft, and will also encourage more complete descriptions of
valuable materials. This project has been in the planning stages for a
number of months, and is the result of cooperation between dealers,
collectors, librarians and curators.

We are planning an acknowledgement page for those individuals and
institutions whose early encouragement has been so crucial to the
development of the database. While there is not enough space to thank
everyone here, we wish to mention the ongoing support and commentary of
the IAMA dealers, Ed Dahl (map curator, retired, Library and Archives
Canada), and Tony Campbell (map librarian, retired, British Library and
author of www.maphistory.info/thefts.html
<http://www.maphistory.info/thefts.html>).

Other individuals supportive of the project include David Allen (map
librarian, emeritus, Stony Brook University and editor of
_Coordinates_), Peter Barber (Head of British Library Map Collections),
Roger Baskes (Chairman, Board of Trustees, Newberry Library), Erin Blake
(Curator of Art & Special Collections, Folger Shakespeare Library),
David Cobb (Curator of the Harvard Map Collection), Angie Cope
(Cartographic Materials Cataloging Librarian, American Geographical
Society), Tinho da Cruz (Editor, _Cartographiti_, Map Curators' Group
newsletter, British Cartographic Society), Susan Danforth (Curator of
Maps, John Carter Brown Library), John Docktor (compiler, Cartography
Calendars, www.docktor.com <http://www.docktor.com/>), Christian Dupont
(Director, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library,
University of Virginia), Ronald Grim (Curator of Maps, Norman
B.Leventhal Map Collection at the Boston Public Library), Philip Hoehn
(previous map librarian for the David Rumsey Map Collection), Robert
Karrow (Curator of Special Collections and Curator of Maps, Newberry
Library), Kenneth Nebenzahl (President, Kenneth Nebenzahl, Inc. and Life
Trustee of the Newberry Library), Jeremy Pool (owner, MapRecord
Publications), Alice Prochaska (Yale University Librarian), Edward
Redmond (Geography & Map Division, Library of Congress), Hélène Richard
(Directeur du Département des Cartes et Plans, Bibliothèque nationale de
France), Thomas Sander (Editor, _The Portolan)_, Dorothy Sloan (owner,
Dorothy Sloan—Rare Books Inc.), Ann Sutherland (Convener, Map Curators'
Group, British Cartographic Society), William Stanley (President,
Washington Map Society), Zsolt Török (Department of Cartography and
Geoinformatics, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary), Frank Turner
(director, Beinecke Library), Sarah Tyacke CB (former Keeper of Public
Records [UK]), Everett Wilkie (former chair, RBMS Security Committee),
and Alberta Auringer Wood (Honorary Research Librarian, Memorial
University of Newfoundland).

From the Washington Map Society (www.washmap.org
<http://www.washmap.org/>) Board of Directors:

“The Washington Map Society’s Board of Directors at its January 15^th
board meeting discussed the proposed establishment of a stolen map
database by the International Antiquarian Mapsellers Association (IAMA).
We believe such a database would be a positive step toward protection
for map collectors and dealers. The board unanimously supports such a
program by the IAMA…”