-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: raised relief maps Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 14:08:07 -0500 From: April Carlucci <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> Organization: Yale Univ Library To: 'Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum' <[log in to unmask]> Dear Robert No one seems to have replied yet about raised relief maps. I've seen various types of these maps in several large map collections. They can be as simple as the modern plastic versions which look to all intents and purposes like 'bumpy' topo quads, or as complicated as landscape representations made of wood and plaster (with little trees and buildings on them) that take up a whole room. I've not had to face the question of discarding them, as I've been fortunate enough to spend most of my time as a map librarian/curator in collections that never threw anything out. It would seem there are three main issues: Access: are these maps included in your catalog? If they aren't, how will users know they are there in order to ask to see them? It's unfortunate to justify discarding something because no one has ever used it when the users never knew it was there in the first place. This is certainly not unique to your collection, although fortunately this is decreasing as more maps are cataloged and included in OPACs, etc. Retrieval/replacement: These maps are always fragile and require careful handling to get them to a place the user can consult them and back into storage without damage. Even the small plastic versions will crack as the plastic becomes more brittle over time. Sometimes the care needed discourages use, either by the staff who don't want to go to the trouble, or by the users who don’t want to put staff to the trouble. A lot depends on your general policies. If you have materials that are retrieved by staff anyway, these simply fall into the category of more of the same, but gently please! If not, it's an issue. Storage: Depending on the map, they can sometimes be stored in the drawer of a map cabinet (although not stacked, so one map per drawer, which eats up a lot of space), or lying on the top of the case; they can be stored in Mylar sleeves and hung, usually in a specially-constructed housing; or they can be stored horizontally on oversized shelves (more the warehouse type than the library type). This last often requires additional protection, such as a box. This is an additional expense to consider. I've seen the hanging Mylar sleeves approach at the Library of Congress G&M, for relatively small and new 'bumpy' topo quads; it looked impressive. I've seen the other approaches in several places. All depends on the size and fragility of the material. Balancing out these 'issues' is the unique and quite fascinating perspective you get on a landscape when using raised relief maps. It's a wonderful way to see the land in three dimensions, second only to a window seat in a low flying airplane! I would suggest you investigate how your library came to have them in the first place--were they acquired for a specific reason? And are there any potential uses for them now--if people knew you had them? If you do decide to discard them, please offer them to others collections before they go in the bin. They are a bit of a luxury, but a really wonderful one! Hope this helps. April April Carlucci Catalog Librarian for Maps Yale University Library -----Original Message----- From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 4:58 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: raised relief maps -------- Original Message -------- Subject: raised relief maps Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:56:33 -0500 From: Robert Dalton <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] The maps collection that reports to me has a rather eclectic collection of raised relief maps. They are generally from the 1940s - 1960s and cover parts of Europe, Japan, Korea, Southeast U.S., and Northeast U.S. As best that I can determine, these are AMS Series 1301P, 1302P, L506P, and L552P, and DMA Series V501P. Except for one time recently, I don't believe anyone has asked specifically for these in recent years. Our collection policy does not specify that we have them, and further, some are in poor physical condition. I am interested in any thoughts any of you have about the wisdom of retaining these. If you have such materials, are they used in your locations? How much and for what purposes? By whom, if you know that? If you had some and discarded them, what was your rationale? If you have retained any or all that you had once, what was your rationale? Thanks in advance. Robert Robert S. Dalton Reference Librarian and Assistant Head Reference Dept., Davis Library CB# 3922, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890 Phone: 919-962-1151 Fax: 919-962-5537 Email: [log in to unmask]