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Henrik,
 
Big decision, and big question!
 
I think you are absolutely correct to suggest closing IFLA's Geography and Map Section.
 
However, the next question is a big one. As map librarians there are few places where we can work closely together - LIBER GdC is a fine example, but I believe the World is still too big a place for us all to meet - we are too "low ranking" within our organisations to be able to travel the planet for gatherings. I think our best hope for discussing matters amongst colleagues is Lis-Maps and Maps-L - MapHist carries too much non-map library traffic.
 
I always thought the LIBER-GdC list had the potential to be much bigger, but it never really took off. This is sad, because I am very aware that the lists that work seem to be English-language only. Maybe there are more such lists which we anglophones are completely unaware of.
 
I am aware that there are no answers here, but feel that opening a general debate can only be healthy.
 
Thanks for getting things moving,
Nick
 

_______________________________________________________

Nick Millea

Map Librarian, Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG, UK
Tel:      +44 1865 287119
Fax:     +44 1865 277139
Email:  [log in to unmask]

Homepage: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/guides/maps/

Temporary move of Special Collections:
More information at: www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/scmoves

_______________________________________________________



From: A forum for issues related to map & spatial data librarianship [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henrik Dupont
Sent: 13 January 2010 07:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: VS: International Cooperation

 

 

 

International Cooperation- Excuse for posting at several list

 

Map and Geography Libraries and librarians have several places to cooperate in more or less formal ways.

We have local, regional, national and international agencies such as Liber, ICA, SLA, ALA , ICHC etc and also on a specific library basis IFLA with its subsection Geography and Map Library Section.

International cooperation is absolutely necessary but the limited number of staff in Map Collections makes it important to choose only the necessary organizations to work in.

So first question- do we still need this IFLA Geography and Map Library Section.

It has been extremely difficult just to have 40 members of the section, difficult to have standing committee members and even more difficult to find officers that have the time to work in between conferences.

It seems that only a very limited number of Map Collections wants to spend work here.

As new chair of the section since august, I therefore would propose to close the section and find other ways of international cooperation.

The former officers have spent so many hours in just getting people to become members and then many more hours to make a program at each years programme but with very few people attending.

There must be better ways of having international cooperation.

Second questions to head of map collections or staff:

How could and should we organize cooperation in the future ?

Is Maps-L, Lis-Maps, Maps Hist list enough ?

 

Best regards

 

Henrik Dupont

Chair of Geography and Map Library Section IFLA

 

 

Henrik Dupont

Forskningsbibliotekar | Map Curator

 

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