----------------------------Original message---------------------------- On Wed, 9 Mar 1994, Keith Clarke wrote: > ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > > As some of you may know, I am currently working on the second > edition of my book, Analytical and Computer Cartography. > In Chapter 6, a new chapter entitled "Access to Spatial Data," > in a subsection on "Finding Spatial Data" I make the following > statement: > QUOTE > The search for paper maps is often conducted in a library. Librarians > have been slow to adapt their tools and techniques to the archiving and sup- > ply of digital map data, but there are now signs that the map librarian com- > munity is rising to the challenge. Map librarians make use of computer > networks to share information and conduct searches, and are now beginning > to make census and other digital maps available in libraries. In addition, > commercial companies often sell cartographic data and will conduct search- > es. Landsat imagery, for example, from EOSAT, can be searched for and > browsed using an on-line data base. > UNQUOTE > > Am I being fair to the map librarians? I know that MAPS-L reflects folks > on the cutting edge of Information Science, and don't want to hit too far > off the mainstream. > Keith: I'm not a map librarian but a writer. My recommendation is to be more diplomatic in the second sentence such as "Up until recently, librarians..." Another thing I see, although it's trivial, is the use of "data base" rather than "database." I use the latter term when it refers to information managed in some sort of system; this seems to be the preference in the media. Hope this helps, Brian J. Matuschak, Publisher, the "Electronic Atlas Newsletter": "Dedicated to information about 'real-life' and professional applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)" [Since 1990] For info, contact: [log in to unmask](206) 525-7155//P.O. Box 75394, Seattle, WA 98125-0394