----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Writes Joan Winearls, Univ of Toronto Map Library >I absolutely second alice hudson's response to the question from the M.A. >student P. Blanchard. We seem to be getting more and more completely open >requests for information that should be being handled in the local Map Library. I must say that this seems like exactly the kind of inquiry that electronic bulletin boards are useful for: benefiting from the collective memory of hundreds of experts. Those who have nothing to add need only move on to the next message. But reflect a moment on the nature of this inquiry. How would you go about researching such a thing in the typical map library? Once you had rounded up the three or four examples cited in Monmonier's book, where would you even start? Since most map libraries are closed-drawer, your only access is through the catalog, which won't even hint at the particular attribute this student is looking for. Most examples are probably magazine, book, or newspaper maps, which won't even be cataloged separately anyway. Putting a public inquiry to people who have seen many thousands of maps seems like a much more practical method. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Dennis McClendon, Chicago CartoGraphics [log in to unmask]