3 messages.---------------------------------Johnnie ----------------------------------------------------------------- >Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 13:15:07 +0100 >From: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Storing wall maps I just wanted to add my experience with rolled wall maps, which, although it is from another point of view, may be worth some consideration. I once catalogued a collection of historical maps for the local history department of a state university library. I found myself one day in their basement storage area, where their collection of mid-19th to mid-20th century wall maps (200-300 of them) were placed one or two each in very long cardboard tubes (like the kind we can't get the USGS shipments out of, only wider and much longer). These tubes had been honey-combed into simple wooden frames. I thought this was very clever when I saw it, and still do. However, once we started pulling these maps out to look at them, we discovered something many of you already know--maps should not be stored rolled like this for long periods of time! They could certainly not be flattened enough to use them; the outermost layer (i.e., bottom several inches of the map) were nearly destroyed from the battering it took in protecting the rest of the map; the old varnish was cracking like crazy and taking the map with it; and the maps exhibited the oddest pattern of curves. The conservation work required to repair these is laborious and costly, particularly because, due to their large size, they have to be sent out to one of the few conservation labs in the country with equipment large enough to hold them. And, I have seen wall maps treated and prepared for hanging storage (flat, not rolled), and, although this was several years ago, the result was not satisfactory. So, no neat solutions here, but a warning that if the maps in question are anything you will want to keep in good and usable condition for some time (even as little as 20-30 years), don't store them rolled. ********************************************************************** April Carlucci [log in to unmask] The British Library Voice +44 171 412 7000x4167 Map Library +44 171 412 7703 Great Russell Street Fax +44 171 412 7780 London WC1B 3DG United Kingdom "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" ********************************************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------- >Date: Thu, 25 Apr 96 07:45:36 CDT >From: [log in to unmask] >Subject: re: Storing Wall Maps We have a few wall maps in our collection. Several years ago we purchased some 6 ft and 8 ft acid-free map tubes and placed the maps (after removing from the rollers) in these, with the map number labeled on the outside of the map tube. These are stored in a corner in the stacks. They are rarely pulled, but when they are, we have a large table to lay them out on. This has worked for these maps. We have a hundred or so smaller maps in map tubes ranging from 3 ft to 5 ft (most are 4 ft), which are just a bit too large for the 36 x 48 map drawers. These were all rolled when received as well. These are stored in map tubes or specially-made phase boxes and lined up on top of the map cases. Ideally we would like to have all these maps flattened, but they are too large for our map cases. Laura Saegert Map Archivist Texas State Archives [log in to unmask] (512) 463-5500 ------------------------------------------------------------ >Date: Thu, 25 Apr 96 08:01:28 CDT >From: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Storing Wall Maps In reponse to the wall map storage problem: We store about 750 wall maps vertically on metal carts. The carts are about 2x4 feet and grids with either 2x2-inch or 4x4-inch openings. Further, the rows are terraced so the rolled maps in the back stand up higher than those in the front row (it also helps to house them in an old WPA building built with 14- foot ceiling for the pre-airconditioned south). The carts make it easy to move them around to access the requested map. In addition to the standard shelf list, we keep a faculty list of which map each faculty member prefers to use. This alllows the faculty member to ask for "the African map I always use" without the staff looking up all of the wall maps of Africa. John Anderson Cartographic Information Center Louisiana State University