----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The CCISA document looks fine to me, although I was surprised when my boss handed it to me and wanted to know what it was all about... Copies ought to go to ALA's LAMA, ALTA? (trustees) & LITA (TECHNOLOGY) folk? If only to their newsletter editors? I'd like to see a follow-up article in LJ, or AL--aimed at generalist librarians, making much the same points but without cartographic jargon, more popular in approach. I would urge cartographic information specialists to quote from this statement, cite it, mention the recommendations in their annual reports this year, in grant proposals, etc. Perhaps include the statement, not the cover letter, as an appendix in annual reports. Might b/b copies, printed on the letterhead, be distributed widely at ALA, SLA, NACIS, WAML, ....? Although the focus was GIS, I felt the lack of some sort of statement about the continuing research value of paper map collections was unfortunate. And might be misunderstood, misinterpreted, misused by administrators who might be seduced by the total electronic library concept... Just thinking out loud, in the main, a round of applause to everybody who helped create this statement--now it is up to us to use it like the political tool it is! Alice H/ [log in to unmask]