As hinted at yesterday by Leslie Wagner (UTA) – “Does it specialize in any particular geographic areas or is it world-wide (global)?” – before applying any geographical/place-name descriptor to a collection it is advisable to consider current (and possible future intended) geographical coverage. 

 

Does the collection currently cover Zimbabwe only? If wider geographical coverage is anticipated the ‘Zimbabwe’/‘Zimbabwean’ descriptors might best be kept for the ‘umbrella’ administrative authority (i.e. the University), and invent a ‘sub-title’ (lower-ranking descriptor) for the GIS aspect – e.g. Geospatial Data Centre. (Unfortunately some people still presume that ‘Library’ implies loan facilities: this may well be true for some of your resources). Thus: ‘University of Zimbabwe Geospatial Data Centre’ (naturally, I’m using the ‘British English’ spelling!). And this would still permit a benefactor’s name to be inserted between ‘University . . .’ and ‘Geospatial . . .’

 

Sincerely,

(Mr) Francis Herbert (former Curator of Maps, Royal Geographical Society-IBG, UK)

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From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lucia Lovison
Sent: 12 November 2015 15:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Proposed Names for Map Library

 

Hi Nancy:

 

Great idea to ask around.

 

My suggestion is for a name that is inclusive and enticing for most people.

 

Something such as "Geospatial Library" or "Spatial Library" at the University of Zimbabwe

or "Zimbabwean Geospatial Library" o "Zimbabwean Spatial Library" or something like it.

 

I'd also would check how the name sounds in the different local languages. 

 

Good luck.

 

Lucia

 

Lucia Lovison, Ph.D.

Geospatial Director and Librarian

Afriterra Foundation

 

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On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 4:38 AM, Nancy Nhendodzashe < <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dear All,

May I please have your suggestions. I work in a Map Library so this Library when it was set had a collection of different types of maps. Over the years the the collection changed to include books in both print and electronic formats as well as electronic journals. The collection covers areas of GIS, Biogeography, Environmental Sciences, Remote sensing, Geospatial Intelligence, Rural and Urban Planning and Real Estate management. Now, we are working on rebranding/ re-naming the Library to suit the changes in the departments. May you please help me with the best possible names for our Library. You can share with me the names given to similar libraries in your institutions. Currently its called Map Library.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Regards,




Nancy Nhendodzashe
University of Zimbabwe Library
Box MP45 Mount Pleasant
Harare,Zimbabwe