Here's a link to the article SF Gate printed about the closure back in 2008. Our department could never have survived the onset of Google Maps and digital navigation systems, but the reasoning at the time behind the closure was definitely erroneous. CSAA saw digital maps as inherently more 'accurate' (confusing precision w accuracy) and that the need for paper maps would dwindle with full adoption of web maps and navigation services. They were correct for the very short term, but in the end easy access to dynamic/digital maps created a whole new group of users who were becoming increasingly geographically aware and map savvy. The net effect has been a resurgence in the need for good design and many of the traits that characterized our form on 'manual' digital cartography... and paper maps!
My gut tells me that if CSAA is contracting with any local cartographers it's because they never saw the drop in demand they predicted and probably have even more (and more critical) paper map users then ever these days!
https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Auto-club-s-paper-map-unit-nears-end-of-road-3282593.php
[https://s.hdnux.com/photos/11/21/55/2431838/10/rawImage.jpg]<https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Auto-club-s-paper-map-unit-nears-end-of-road-3282593.php>
Auto club's paper map unit nears end of road - SFGATE<https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Auto-club-s-paper-map-unit-nears-end-of-road-3282593.php>
The auto club, which serves Northern California, Nevada and Utah, is phasing out its 12-person cartographic unit by year-end, the association said.
www.sfgate.com
David Medeiros
Geospatial Reference & Instruction Specialist
Stanford Geospatial Center
650.561.5294
@mapbliss
SGC website: gis.stanford.edu
GIS cartography: bit.ly/giscart<http://bit.ly/giscart><http://bit.ly/giscart>
GIS email list: bit.ly/GISlist
________________________________
From: David Medeiros <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 1:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>; Angela R Cope <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Paper maps making a come back
The thing to know about AAA is it's a federation of clubs and territories plus the national org, not just the national org. Across the US many of those clubs used to make their own maps, or contracted regionally. And then the national org would fill in with their in-house cartographic department (plus they made all the national level maps).
California is split into two AAA clubs: CSAA and ACSC. When I was at CSAA from around 1998 - 2008 we were one of 3 clubs that still had in-house cartographic departments (CSAA, ACSC and Ohio I think). When CSAA closed the cartographic department around 2008 most of our map files went to the national clubs cart dept. in Florida. But I think they (CSAA) continued to use at least one small map producer for some of the local maps. Can't recall the name. As far as I know, most maps across the various clubs are now made at the national org with a few regional and local maps being produced by smaller vendors. As of a few years back ACSC was possibly the only club left that still made all their maps in-house in a quasi manual method (non GIS).
David
David Medeiros
Geospatial Reference & Instruction Specialist
Stanford Geospatial Center
650.561.5294
@mapbliss
SGC website: gis.stanford.edu
GIS cartography: bit.ly/giscart<http://bit.ly/giscart><http://bit.ly/giscart>
GIS email list: bit.ly/GISlist
________________________________
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Angela R Cope <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 10:09 AM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Paper maps making a come back
There was an interesting segment on the Today show earlier this week regarding paper maps.
The story mentions AAA maps and I'm wondering if anyone knows who is making AAA maps these days. They used to have a contract with Seeger, but if you recall, Seeger closed their business in 2020. AAA continues to make maps - University of Illinois has cataloged a number of them.
Here's the video to the paper map story: https://www.today.com/video/why-sales-of-paper-maps-are-surging-161227333515
[https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_social_share_1200x630_center,f_auto,q_auto:best/mpx/2704722219/2023_01/1674478745149_tdy_news_7a_brock_paper_maps_230123_1920x1080-isdslg.jpg]<https://www.today.com/video/why-sales-of-paper-maps-are-surging-161227333515>
Why sales of paper maps are surging - today.com<https://www.today.com/video/why-sales-of-paper-maps-are-surging-161227333515>
A combination of maps as art and a search for a bigger picture from young travelers has sparked a significant jump in the sales of paper maps. NBC’s Sam Brock reports for TODAY on the recent surge.
www.today.com
Angie Cope
AGS Library, UW Milwaukee Libraries
2311 E. Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
<http://www.uwm.edu/libraries>http://uwm.edu/libraries/agsl/
M-F 8:00am-4:30pm [log in to unmask]
Personal phone: (414) 251-7608
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