==========================================
MAPS-L    MAPS-L    MAPS-L
=========================================
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 14:43:26 -0400
From: Michael Fry <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Serial Set map preservation
To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>


[This message has been crossposted to the Pacific Northwest Collections
Preservation and GOVDOC-L
listservs. I am posting it here with the author's blessing. As a docs librarian,
I note, somewhat
sadly, that the concerns he mentions apply to a great deal of gov-published
maps, not just the
50,000+ items in the Congressional Serial Set.]

mf
--
Michael Fry
Government Documents & Maps Librarian
University of Maryland Libraries


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Serial Set map preservation (crossposted to the preservenw listserv)
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 09:40:45 -0500
From: Heitman, Herrick <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Discussion of Government Document Issues <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]

We are discussing how to handle the fragile Serial Set maps as part of
our preservation activities at the Washington State Library. These
volumes are Federal property, but we are the stewards responsible for
the maintenance of the set. We are primarily interested in the maps
relevant to local and regional history, and we can't afford the Readex
or Lexis-Nexis digital products.

We've considered various options. We could remove maps, deacidify them,
do tissue repairs on folds and tears, and then tip them back into the
volumes. We could remove maps, deacidify them, do tissue repairs,
encapsulate them, store them in map cabinets, catalog them, and insert
location notes in the original volumes. We could put acid-free notes in
volumes asking people not to unfold the maps. Or we could do noting.

This raises the question of what other libraries are doing--or not
doing--with their Serial Set maps. Do you treat the maps as artifacts
best left untouched or are you taking active measures to preserve them?

Herrick Heitman
Washington State Library
Office of the Secretary of State
PO Box 42460
Olympia WA 98504-2460
(360) 704-5273
[log in to unmask]
The law of averages doesn't help somebody who's been hit by a meteorite.


----- End forwarded message -----