Location
KIPJ Theatre
Session Type
10-minute lightning talk
Start Date
30-4-2019 10:25 AM
End Date
30-4-2019 10:35 AM
Keywords
Digital Humanities, maps, digitization, archives, cartographic materials, coordinates, map collections, digital archives
Abstract
The print map, once seen as a unique and preservation worthy collection treated uniquely as a collection housed within a separate library or library space, has seen a precipitous decline in usage since Google Maps and other online tools emerged on the scene starting in 2005. With many print map collections experiencing declines in researcher requests per year, this inevitable decline of print map usage underscores the difficulty in discovering maps via the library catalog, search engines, and/or via finding aids. As collection space is pinned against demands for student space, print map collections are targets for capturing additional space and rapid deaccessioning, but there is a better path forward which is a win-win for researchers and library administrators.
A renaissance in map usage is within grasp as print map collections are digitized if approached from a digital humanities and cartographer first mindset. Creating a digital facsimile of the print map alone is not sufficient as digitized maps must include a digital map viewer, descriptive metadata, coordinates, be presented in format(s) that empower researchers to use/mix/reuse maps, and provide unmediated access to full-quality maps, all within a digital archive environment. This approach enables digital humanities and the cartographer researchers to discover maps, create new forms of scholarship with maps, and increase map collection usage while enabling physical collections to be retained in lesser demand spaces or off-site. This session provides applied approaches for discovery and access to digital map collections to address digital humanities and cartography researchers.
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Digital Humanities Commons, Geography Commons, History Commons, Library and Information Science Commons
Lightning Talk: Re/Mapping the Archives: Repository Content for the Digital Humanities and Cartographer
KIPJ Theatre
The print map, once seen as a unique and preservation worthy collection treated uniquely as a collection housed within a separate library or library space, has seen a precipitous decline in usage since Google Maps and other online tools emerged on the scene starting in 2005. With many print map collections experiencing declines in researcher requests per year, this inevitable decline of print map usage underscores the difficulty in discovering maps via the library catalog, search engines, and/or via finding aids. As collection space is pinned against demands for student space, print map collections are targets for capturing additional space and rapid deaccessioning, but there is a better path forward which is a win-win for researchers and library administrators.
A renaissance in map usage is within grasp as print map collections are digitized if approached from a digital humanities and cartographer first mindset. Creating a digital facsimile of the print map alone is not sufficient as digitized maps must include a digital map viewer, descriptive metadata, coordinates, be presented in format(s) that empower researchers to use/mix/reuse maps, and provide unmediated access to full-quality maps, all within a digital archive environment. This approach enables digital humanities and the cartographer researchers to discover maps, create new forms of scholarship with maps, and increase map collection usage while enabling physical collections to be retained in lesser demand spaces or off-site. This session provides applied approaches for discovery and access to digital map collections to address digital humanities and cartography researchers.