Has anyone seen the movie Momento where the film starts at the end and
works it's way to the beginning? Well, read this email that way too. A
VERY interesting conversation happening at the [log in to unmask] list that
got forwarded to the exlibris rare and special collections librarian
list and now ... I'm forwarding to map librarians. There were some
special collections librarians who were shocked but I think the reality
is that it happens.
What do you think?
Angie
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: ["EXLIBRIS-L"] maps as a matter of interest to curators of
rare books and special collections
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 10:15:55 -0500
From: Charles Alaimo <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
I, and my map colleagues before me, having been doing this for many
years at our institution. Folded maps on delicate or acidic paper never
survive when handled by patrons after decades of being untouched, and
flatening them is the best policy, I believe. I have made it a practice
to always return the map bibliographically to the original book or
serial record, even if specific map cataloging is lacking. Using our
unique, in-house classification, we add the map back to the record, and
pencil notes on the map and the book state its origins.
Charles Alaimo
Rare Book and Map Librarian
Grosvenor Room
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
1 Lafayette Sq.
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-858-7118
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* raphaële mouren [[log in to unmask]]
*Sent:* Thursday, January 23, 2014 9:38 AM
*To:* [log in to unmask]
*Subject:* Re: ["EXLIBRIS-L"] maps as a matter of interest to curators
of rare books and special collections
thank you Everett, you give the perfect answer.
And what about text written on the verso of the map? you just don't have
it when you read the book or the article?
Raphaële
2014/1/23 Angie Cope, American Geographical Society Library, UW
Milwaukee <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
There are SO MANY maps bound into books/serials. It's a race against
time to preserve these resources. I don't think map libraries are
cutting maps out of 15th century atlases but instead trying to save
maps from serials. These serials are increasingly being weeded
because they're "scanned" and online. The quality of the "scans"
through google or haithi or whatever are often poor at best.
Very interesting discussion and thank you so much Donald for
sharing. I'm not on the magirt list and so I'm glad I got to see this.
Angie (map librarian)
AGS Library
On 01/22/2014 07:30 PM, Donald Farren wrote:
>
> Not to tattle, but I have learned, as enclosed, that map
> librarians "rescue" (their term) maps by razoring them from books
> for separate housing, the practice having the blessing of the
> Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress (although
> the division holds the maps uncatalogued), the justification being
> that not having to go to the books "saves a lot of time and
> energy." Our esteemed colleagues have their reasons that must be
> respected, but I wonder if the practice of breaking the books and
> obliterating the provenance of the maps makes anyone else nervous.
> How does this practice, in principle, differ from breaking
> atlases, commonly condemned by map librarians?
>
> Donald Farren
>
> 4009 Bradley Lane
>
> Chevy Chase, MD 20815-5238
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> voice 301.951.9479
>
> fax 301.951.3898
>
> mobile 301.768.8972
>
> *From:*Hallie Pritchett [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 22, 2014 5:19 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject:* RE: Do you 'rescue' maps from books?
>
> Kathleen - John Phillips from Oklahoma State did a great
> presentation on this very topic at a DLC Conference and Meeting a
> couple of years ago. He talked specifically about pulling maps
> related to Oklahoma from the Serial Set and cataloging them
> separately. Don't know if he's on this list (I believe he's a
> MAGIRT member), but if he's at Midwinter I'm sure he'd be happy to
> discuss their project.
>
> Hallie Pritchett
> Map and Federal Regional Depository Librarian
> University of Georgia Libraries
> Athens, GA 30602
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 706-542-0664
> 706-583-0631 (FAX)
> Map and Government Information Library -
> http://www.libs.uga.edu/magil/
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*Redmond, Edward James <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 22, 2014 5:04 PM
> *To:* 'Weessies, Kathleen'; [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject:* RE: Do you 'rescue' maps from books?
>
> Kathleen:
>
> The Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress has been
> rescuing maps from the Serial Set for many years. Additionally,
> we have done the same with the RGS journals, and other 19^th
> century maps tucked in War Department journals, etc.
>
> By far, the largest project was our Serial Set rescue. From a
> reference point of view, these maps are invaluable and having the
> ability to go to the maps (based on Donna Koepps inventory) saves
> a lot of time and energy. While this collection is not cataloged,
> some of the maps have been scanned for a specific project.
>
> If I were King of the Maps I would make one gigantic “rescued
> maps” collection with notes on all the different publications
> (Serial Set; RGS; etc.)
>
> Ed
>
> *From:*Weessies, Kathleen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> *Sent:* Monday, January 20, 2014 5:00 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject:* Do you 'rescue' maps from books?
>
> I’ve spent the last few days razoring maps out of the Serial Set –
> our volumes from the late 1800s and early 1900s are about to go to
> Remote Storage. Some old journals have fold-out maps in them
> too, such as from the Royal Geographical Society. If you’ve done
> a project to harvest maps for flat storage in the map library, I’d
> be interested in hearing of your experiences.
>
> Hey, is this a good discussion topic for the Map Collection
> Manager’s discussion group this weekend?
>
> When I saw the first booktruck in Catalog Maintenance with its
> numerous fold-out maps, I on-the-spot invented a workflow to
> rescue some of them. I can’t take them all, so I’m prioritizing
> the ones closest to our collection interests. Great Lakes, and
> all that, plus removal of Indians and other vital topics. Some
> maps fall into pieces at the fold lines the moment I touch them!
>
> Kathleen Weessies
>
> Geosciences Librarian; Head, Map Library
>
> Coordinator; Collaborative Technology Labs
>
> Michigan State University
>
> Main Library
>
> 366 W. Circle Drive, W308
>
> East Lansing, MI 48824
>
> 517-884-0849
>
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