----------------------------Original message---------------------------- At the University of Florida we experimented with having wall maps in the Map Library when it was first set up in the 1970's. It was the first time I had worked with wall maps in a library so the results were not pre- determined. After several years we also concluded that these were class- room instruction materials and were more appropriately housed and purchased by the individual depts. needing them for their classes. It has not negatively affected the use of the Map & Imagery Library by these depts. I agree with the points that both Mary and David made. To maintain good public relations, I do maintain a collection of Wall Map Catalogs and help faculty reps to interpret types of maps, mountings, etc. We did give some of the maps to middle schools but in many cases they were too old to be useable. A few of the historical maps went with the Books to Africa program and were well received. The others sold surpraisingly well at the annual Library Book Sale for one or two dollars each. The local Theatre bought some for plays and a number of dorm rooms are decorated with them! For the last three years we have been housing the History Dept. Wall maps while they await their new building. It has resulted in some excellent paper map gifts but has re-enforced our conclusions that the staffing and space involved are not justified by the use. One final note, we saved a set of wall maps which were purchased for the first classroom on campus. They were still in the original oak box built to mount them on the wall. These were given to our University Archives and are considered an important item in the history of the University. So it is possible something in the collection might be valuable even if it is not older than the 1850s. HelenJane Armstrong Head, Map & Imagery Library University of Florida