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Here at NYPL Map Division, as probably at other map depositories
around the country, we recently received a "new" USGS map of Yosemite
Valley, printed in 1995, but with no indication of revision beyond the
"limited revision 1970." The only differences I've noticed so far are
-- it's printed on plastic or plastic-treated paper (can anybody tell
me which, by the way?) instead of paper;
-- it has a new title panel with illustration and location map on the
verso;
-- there's a slight change in the title, in addition to the new panel
title; and
-- the magnetic declination differs by a degree, though both are as of
1958 (is the difference because one is mean declination and one is at
the center of the sheet?).
Though I guess it is not a new phenomenon, getting a new printing of an
old USGS map, I wonder if this Yosemite Valley map, with the new title
panel applied, is a manifestation of the new, limited map revision
practice -- the issue brought to our attention by Sue Haffner in the
context of the 7.5 minute series.
As a side issue, under what circumstances are new printings of USGS
maps sent to depository libraries? When they are somewhat revised and
not simply reprinted because of having been out of stock? What about
the new printing of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act map, perhaps from the same shipment as the Yosemite map? It has a
new ISBN and bar code; is that why it was distributed again? Do I
remember reading somewhere that USGS maps do not distinguish between
reprints and limited revisions unless there are a specified amount or
percentage (measured how?) of revisions?
I'm sure it's been said before that these issues make problems for map
catalogers, not to mention map users who want to examine changes in
places and on maps. And for libraries like NYPL, which only want to
keep single copies of maps, we have to either pore over these and fret
about what to do, or just keep the map, forget about it, and let a map
scholar or map nerd or keen and interested observer work on the problem
later.
But back to the major issue. Don't the recreational and
non-recreational field use of Yosemite Valley merit a completely
revised map every 25 years or so? With a new North American datum and
always changing declination, wouldn't a new edition be important for a
lost scout with a compass or post-doctoral fellow with a federal grant
and GPS? And even if resources are limited, aren't the new
technologies supposed to enable revisions without the need for vast
outlays of additional funds? Even if printing on demand is going to be
the new modus operandi, wouldn't the occasional published map
(presumably big sellers like Yosemite?) be created by taking advantage
of the updated database? And even if limited resources mean that
certain revisions can't be made at this time, either in the geospatial
database or on the published map, can't USGS more optimistically plan
revisions at less frequent intervals rather than discontinuing them
completely?
Sorry about my long message, and sorry to betray my lack of up-to-date
knowledge and naivete. But my exasperation of one afternoon seemed to
coincide with Sue Haffner's call for comments still being on my mind.
Nancy Kandoian
NYPL Map Division
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