Abstract

After World War II, the Geography and Map Division at the Library of Congress acquired large quantities of military-related maps through the U.S. Army Map Service and similar military agencies, as well as from traditional domestic and foreign sources. The Division found itself in possession of many duplicates or otherwise expendable cartographic materials. The Division managed the surplus with its Special Map Processing Project. It recruited from the ranks of students, faculty, and librarians to secure hands-on staffing assistance with a kaleidoscopic variety of frontline projects. The Project served as a conduit to redistribute maps and other cartographic materials from their surplus collection. As the Division enjoyed the benefits of this arrangement — such as gaining control of their collections — many university, college, and other libraries benefited from acquiring duplicate materials, which strengthened, enlarged, and sometimes “seeded” map collections. The authors explore the Special Project’s roots and founding; its structure, staffing, impacts, and outcomes; and important changes.

摘要

二战后，美国国会图书馆的地理与地图部通过美国陆军地图服务和类似军事机构，以及从传统的国内外资源中获取了大量与军事相关的地图。该司发现自己拥有许多复制品或其他消耗性制图材料。该司通过其特殊地图处理项目管理盈余。它从学生、教师和图书馆员队伍中招募人员，以通过千变万化的各种前线项目获得实际的人员配备帮助。该项目充当了重新分发他们剩余收藏中的地图和其他制图材料的渠道。由于该部门享受这种安排的好处——例如获得对他们馆藏的控制权——许多大学、学院、和其他图书馆受益于复制资料，这加强、扩大了，有时是“种子”地图收藏。作者探索了特殊项目的根源和创立；其结构、人员配备、影响和成果；和重要的变化。