========================================== 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 -----