----------------------------Original message---------------------------- TO: Cartographic Information Specialists The following statement, prepared by the representatives of the Congress of Cartographic Information Specialists Associations (CCISA) and endorsed by their respective organizations, was recently sent to the directors of ARL and CARL libraries in the United States and Canada. It is expected that further distribution and publication of this document will be taking place in the near future. The member organizations in the CCISA are as follows: American Congress on Surveying and Mapping Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives Committee of Southeast Map Librarians (AAG) Geography & Map Division, Special Libraries Association International Society of Curators of Early Maps Map and Geography Round Table, American Library Association Map Online Users' Group North American Cartographic Information Society Northeast Map Organization Western Association of Map Libraries Chris Baruth, CCISA Coordinator ================================================================= THE STATE OF MAP LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES April 20, 1994 We, the participating organizations of the Congress of Cartographic Information Specialists Associations, would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an evaluation of the state of map libraries and archives and to make recommendations based on our professional assessment of the situation. We feel that these are areas of importance for the continued success of map and spatial information collections. Geographic Illiteracy There are a number of problems that are compounded by issues surrounding geographic and spatial information in our society. The fact that we seem to be nations of geographic illiterates has been a topic of keen interest. Though a recent initiative on geographic and map literacy is making its way into the curricula of elementary and secondary schools, cartographic information specialists, for the foreseeable future, will be required to deal with society's shortcomings in geographic and cartographic education and understanding. This will continue to require a level of service in the map library or archives considerably higher than that provided in more generalized library settings. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) The computer has changed not only the way we make maps, but the way we use maps and geographic information. The Geographic Information System (GIS) is a rapidly developing technology which allows the literate spatial information user almost instantaneous access to cartographic representations of statistical and numerical data. These systems can provide the user with the ability to assemble disparate sources -- demographic, epidemiologic, hydrologic, transportation, etc., so as to effect spatial analysis in ways that were inconceivable even a decade ago. The implementation and maintenance of this technology places great demands on both the map library or archive and the cartographic information specialist who must prepare to meet the present and future electronic information needs of users at all levels of sophistication. Environmental Science as a Growth Industry It is clear that the use of spatial information is growing in the government as well as in the private sector. The rate of growth will increase in the next decade. GIS software developers are experiencing a market surge, as are GIS consultants. Environmental science industries are being predicted as the growth industries of the decade. Governmental support of networking and concern over environmental problems seems to be a priority of the present U.S. federal administration. Technology Transfer As with traditional forms of cartographic information, the cartographic information specialist must remain ultimately responsible for the electronic spatial information as it is acquired, cataloged and made accessible in libraries and archives. This technology transfer demands education and training, hardware and software, and innovations in cataloging, classification and storage. In order to achieve the transfer adequately and to meet the needs of library and archives users, significant new resources will be required. Recommendations The Congress of Cartographic Information Specialists Associations recommends to libraries and archives: 1. That vacant and vacated positions in cartographic materials collections be filled with competent library and archives professionals with education in geography, cartography or related areas of study, in addition to the library or archival training, and relevant experience in map libraries or archives. 2. That cartographic material collections be staffed at levels appropriate to the clients' research use. 3. That the demands of the technology transfer from paper to electronic formats be recognized and that adequate resources be provided for training, hardware, and software. 4. That strategies that make better use of technology for the map format such as networks, shared data, large format copying, and digitizing be supported.