Chris -

The questions you raised are of critical long-term concern to the scientists who use our libraries, and so I read your note with great interest.  To support certain needs of our State-Federal geological survey community, each year we hold a technical meeting "Digital Mapping Techniques" (of which you're well aware, as you participated in 2013!).  At DMT'14, the hottest topic was, without a doubt, a session entitled " So much paper and so many digits — deciding how to manage both, in the midst of the Digital Revolution" (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/dmt/DMT_presentations.html#dmt14).  It might be expected that GIS-oriented scientists would favor digits rather than paper, but there was strong sentiment that the source information absolutely must be preserved.  Much is lost by "having a bonfire" after paper records are scanned.  Also, born-digital information is at great risk of being lost, as you well know, but that issue isn't the pressing one that you refer to, since such products don't take up much floor space!

At DMT'14, we resolved to put together a document for geological survey management that would describe the problem, and offer solutions.  We have not yet started that work, but would very much like to work with you and others in the Library community, to present the arguments as clearly as possible.  If your call to this listserve produced responses that you can use in your white paper to CSM officials, I'd really like to also use them in the DMT document.  Ideally, the issues could be best expressed in a document written by a group with more visibility than DMT, and I and other geological survey folks could then simply refer our managers to it.

Thanks.

Dave Soller
Chief, National Geologic Map Database


On Dec 24, 2014, at 10:21 AM, Christopher Thiry <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> All,
>  
> My boss has requested that I write a white paper (or something like it) outlining the best practices of an academic map collection.
>  
> The School's architect has designs on parts of the Map Room's physical space.  He thinks that we can digitize everything (copyright be damned), and put all that remains in some sort of tough-shed off-site.  Joy...
>  
> Do any of you have or can point me to:
> --documentation regarding best practices for a map collection in an academic setting
> --weights & measurements regarding compact shelving of map cases
> --problems/benefits of off-site storage--what are the costs?  What should be kept on hand?
> --deselection/weeding policies
> --information regarding digitization (costs including the prep work, scanning, file storage, metadata work, hosting costs, website, etc.)--most non-librarian types think you scan something and you're done.  But we know different, but I need some stats.
>  
> Maybe I'll stack my map cases 6 high--the void under the floors doesn't matter, does it?
>  
> thanks.
>  
> Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...
>  
> Christopher J.J. Thiry
> Map Librarian
> Colorado School of Mines
> 1400 Illinois
> Golden, CO 80401
> p. 303-273-3697
> f. 303-273-3199
> [log in to unmask]
> http://library.mines.edu/