My little world gets even smaller when I hear of other map librarians
working in tandem with themselves. I am a week away from 21 years of
service as map librarian and cartographer, although the latter is in
decline thanks to computer technology. Computers are not all good so
far as I am concerned. Allegedly, more maps are available on line as
well as it seems that even this service is slowing down. I had to
learn on the hoof. Courses were not available then unless it was for
a degree. I already have one in fine art (don't ask!) and so had no
time for another. My employers cannot afford now to send me to the
SoC summer school, so what is happening in the big wide world, I
haven't a clue.
It is noted that a number of other map librarians are getting rid of
maps to which my library has gained by increasing the geology
collection and reducing the 1:2,500 collection by concentrating on
increasing the local county collection - if that makes sense! Anyone
want any 1:2,500?
I will also be ridding the collection of its more global oddities
which haven't seen the light of day for yonks. There is an amazing
collection of Dutch maps to boot. Need the space for my large scale
county maps, general land use maps and local archive collection. Bye
the way, I prefer to lay my maps flat!
Is your map curator's training limited to a specific membership or
open to all? Maybe I can learn something new after all these years!
Alan
On 17 Sep 04, at 15:08, Bernie Barron wrote:
> Hello again Tinho,
>
> Thanks for the update!! Fingers crossed for next July then!!
>
> I've worked in the University of Hull Map Library since 29th Sept
> 1994, so
> coming up to 10 years! It was, until last September, staffed by me
> (employed by the Geog. Dept.) from 10 till 2, then by a member of the
> Univerity's Brynmor Jones Library staff from 2 till 5. The staff from
> the library worked on a rota system for the last 3 years following the
> retirement of the librarian who previously did the afternoon slots.
> Then, due to staff shortages, plus the fact that the rota staff fairly
> DREADED coming over here in case they got queries they weren't able to
> deal with, I ended working full-time as of last September.
> The Map Library here is also a resource centre for students
> (particularly
> geography students). It consists of a small library including current
> periodicals, plus books and photocopied articles deposited here by
> lecturers for reference (basically a Short Loan library). I am
> responsible for cataloguing these too as well as issuing them. There
> have been a good few changes over the years that I've been here.
> Until 1998 all such items were issued manually, and I had to type out
> reams of lists for the students to refer to!!!
> The Map collection consists of well over 60,000 sheet maps and
> is the
> largest in the region. We also have a comprehensive collection of
> atlases and air photos. I love working here - no two days are ever
> the same!! Prior to this I was a Primary School teacher, so had no
> library background or training whatsoever - hence my wish - especially
> now that I have sole responsibility - to gain further knowledge and
> training!!
> Thank you again,
> Bernie
>
> Bernadette M. Barron
> Map Librarian
> The University of Hull
>
>
> Quoting Tinho da Cruz <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > Dear Bernadette,
> > Training was discussed at great length at the Map Curators' Group
> > Business meeting. Another training day has been proposed for a
> > round next July with a digital theme, perhaps with an emphasis on
> > Meta data. I have not yet written up the minutes of the business
> > meeting though. I think Manchester Computing Centre was suggested
> > as a training centre, but I suspect it will be expensive.
> >
> > I too work in a singleton post and greatly value opportunities of
> > meeting with other map curators and librarians. I find it very
> > refreshing to chat to people who are facing the same problems and
> > issues that I do.
> >
> > It's always been my concern that lis-maps and Cartographiti should
> > be of practical use to us all. If you've any ideas for things that
> > you think would be useful for the latter please let me know. The
> > new web site aimed at map archivists, curators and librarians should
> > be ready in the next couple of weeks.
> >
> > By the way, have you been with the maps at Hull long?
> >
> > Best wishes
> > Tinho
> > --
> > Antonio da Cruz (Tinho) [log in to unmask]
> > Map Curator, Department of Geography, Roxby Building
> > University of Liverpool, LIVERPOOL L69 7ZT
> > Telephone: 0151 794 2844 Fax: 0151 794 2866
> >
> > See the British Archaeological Association web page
> > http://www.britarch.ac.uk/baa
> >
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Cartographer and Map Librarian.
Dept.of Archeaology, Geography and Applied Science.
University College Worcester.
Henwick Grove.
Worcester.
WR2 6AJ.
tel: 01905 855183
email: [log in to unmask]
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