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Subject: MAPS-L: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement LIBRARY SECURITY
FOR MAP COLLECTIONS
Date: Thurs, 3 Nov 2005
From: McEathron, Scott R <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Dear David, Alice, and Colleagues,
I look forward to this discussion at the ALA Midwinter meeting in San
Antonio on security for map collections.
A related issue that I would like to hear people's thoughts on is in
regards to the "ethics of acquisitions" of maps. It seems that this, at
times, can be an unclear area. Do we have a responsibility to make sure
that we acquire maps ethically? The next question may be "according to
who's ethics?" Should we form a set of guidelines?
Obviously, knowingly acquiring stolen goods is not only unethical but
illegal (see "New Getty Panel to Examine Operations," Los Angeles Times
10/30/05). In addition to this, my concern is with the occasions were
it is perfectly legal yet may be unethical. Consider the following
illustrations:
Working from the assumption that some old maps are valuable "cultural
artifacts."
1) Have map dealers ever acquired maps from collectors/collections in
developing nations or perhaps eastern European countries in the early
1990s? Perhaps even from small cultural institutions in desperate need
of cash in those countries. Only to resell, at a profit, to collectors
and institutions in the west. Is it ethical to move the cultural and
intellectual resources of one nation to another in this manner?
2) Think of an example of a valuable and rare map acquired by an
American institution that was originally created and held in a different
nation. It was probably legally obtained. However, is it ethical to
move a valuable cultural object from one nation to another? How about
for "educational" purposes? Or, exchange?
Best wishes,
Scott R. McEathron
Map Librarian
Anschutz Library -- University of Kansas
1301 Hoch Auditoria Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045-7537
-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Angie Cope, AGSL
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 10:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: MAPS-L: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement LIBRARY SECURITY FOR
MAP COLLECTIONS
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MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
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Subject: ALA Midwinter Meeting Announcement
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005
From: David Cobb <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Colleagues -
MAGERT ALA MIDWINTER DISCUSSION
The Research Libraries Map Collection Management Group and Small Map
Collections Discussion Group plan to hold a joint meeting during the
upcoming ALA Midwinter meetings in San Antonio
(www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2006/home.htm). The topic
for this meeting will be LIBRARY SECURITY FOR MAP COLLECTIONS: THE FUTURE
and will be co-chaired by David Cobb (Harvard Map Collection) and Alice
Hudson (New York Public Library Map Division). Among the topics to be
discussed will be: existing security guideline documents; security
policies; access to rare materials; physical facilities; staffing; and an
open discussion among attendees. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for
Sunday afternoon, January 29th. Comments or questions are welcomed by Alice
([log in to unmask]) and David ([log in to unmask]).
***************************************************************************
David A. Cobb Tel. 617.495.2417
Harvard Map Collection FAX 617.496.0440
Harvard College Library Email: [log in to unmask]
Cambridge, MA 02138 HTTP://hcl.harvard.edu/maps
************************** VERITAS ****************************************
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