================================================ MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ================================================ Subject: MAPS-L: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement LIBRARY SECURITY FOR MAP COLLECTIONS Date: Thurs, 3 Nov 2005 From: McEathron, Scott R <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Dear David, Alice, and Colleagues, I look forward to this discussion at the ALA Midwinter meeting in San Antonio on security for map collections. A related issue that I would like to hear people's thoughts on is in regards to the "ethics of acquisitions" of maps. It seems that this, at times, can be an unclear area. Do we have a responsibility to make sure that we acquire maps ethically? The next question may be "according to who's ethics?" Should we form a set of guidelines? Obviously, knowingly acquiring stolen goods is not only unethical but illegal (see "New Getty Panel to Examine Operations," Los Angeles Times 10/30/05). In addition to this, my concern is with the occasions were it is perfectly legal yet may be unethical. Consider the following illustrations: Working from the assumption that some old maps are valuable "cultural artifacts." 1) Have map dealers ever acquired maps from collectors/collections in developing nations or perhaps eastern European countries in the early 1990s? Perhaps even from small cultural institutions in desperate need of cash in those countries. Only to resell, at a profit, to collectors and institutions in the west. Is it ethical to move the cultural and intellectual resources of one nation to another in this manner? 2) Think of an example of a valuable and rare map acquired by an American institution that was originally created and held in a different nation. It was probably legally obtained. However, is it ethical to move a valuable cultural object from one nation to another? How about for "educational" purposes? Or, exchange? Best wishes, Scott R. McEathron Map Librarian Anschutz Library -- University of Kansas 1301 Hoch Auditoria Drive Lawrence, KS 66045-7537 -----Original Message----- From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Angie Cope, AGSL Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 10:17 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: MAPS-L: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement LIBRARY SECURITY FOR MAP COLLECTIONS ================================================ MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ================================================ Subject: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 From: David Cobb <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Colleagues - MAGERT ALA MIDWINTER DISCUSSION The Research Libraries Map Collection Management Group and Small Map Collections Discussion Group plan to hold a joint meeting during the upcoming ALA Midwinter meetings in San Antonio (www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2006/home.htm). The topic for this meeting will be LIBRARY SECURITY FOR MAP COLLECTIONS: THE FUTURE and will be co-chaired by David Cobb (Harvard Map Collection) and Alice Hudson (New York Public Library Map Division). Among the topics to be discussed will be: existing security guideline documents; security policies; access to rare materials; physical facilities; staffing; and an open discussion among attendees. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday afternoon, January 29th. Comments or questions are welcomed by Alice ([log in to unmask]) and David ([log in to unmask]). *************************************************************************** David A. Cobb Tel. 617.495.2417 Harvard Map Collection FAX 617.496.0440 Harvard College Library Email: [log in to unmask] Cambridge, MA 02138 HTTP://hcl.harvard.edu/maps ************************** VERITAS **************************************** -- --