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The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA) was established in 1927 to "further the cause of
librarianship"; "encourage, sponsor and promote research and
development in all aspects of library activity, and to share  its
findings with the library community as a whole for the greater good
of librarianship."
 
In the spirit of that mission statement, the IFLA Section of Geography and
Map Libraries would like to issue an invitation to all those
interested in the future of our profession of map librarianship.
From August 16 to August 21, 1998, IFLA will meet in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands with the theme "On the Crossroads of Information and
Culture."  This is a very timely topic not only for librarianship as
a whole, but for the map and geography community in particular with
the rapid growth of digital information and the continuing
traditional needs of large paper collections.
 
Preliminary planning for this conference will begin at the upcoming
IFLA meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, August 30 to September 6, 1997.
Anyone is welcome to attend the planning sessions.  You may be
appointed an "observer" upon application to the G&M Standing
Committee and may register by mail or onsite for the meeting.
Registration fee is about $400.00, depending on currency rates, and
this covers all the receptions, entertainment, reprints of papers
presented, and full-day field trips on September 6.  Several
accomodation options exist from luxury hotels to B&Bs.  SAS is the
official airline, but many major carriers service Copenhagen.
 
We would like to have input from the map library community on topics
to be discussed and on facilitator/discussants to lead the various
sub-topical areas identified.  The following is a list of potential
areas for discussion, considering various traditions in map
librarianship:
 
I.  Structure Tradition
    a.  cataloging
    b.  cartography
    c.  GIS
    d.  publication/communication
 
II.  Content Tradition
    a.  geography/geology
    b.  reference
    c.  travel/tourism
 
III. Personnel/Facilities Tradition
    a.  full-time
    b.  part-time
    c.  equipment
    d.  design and layout
 
Again, this is all very preliminary, but please E-mail or fax me your
comments and know that you are welcome to attend the planning
sessions in Copenhagen and the Amsterdam meeting in 1998.
 
David C. McQuillan, Chairman
IFLA G&M Section
 
David C. McQuillan
Map Librarian
Thomas Cooper Library
Division of Libraries and Information Systems
University of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C.  29208
 
Phone: (803) 777-4723
Fax: (803) 777-4661
Internet: [log in to unmask]