Abstract An appreciation for old maps as culturally important documents came slowly in the United States. The first precondition for this shift was the reframing of history brought by political independence. The second was the growth of facsimile maps, which made these sources available to a wider audience. The third was a loose network of scholars, archivists, collectors, and federal actors—including

Abstract Where does one look to study cities around the world? How does a librarian build a collection that moves beyond a limited Western focus to incorporate post-colonial and indigenous experiences? And how can such analysis be automated to allow practitioners at disparate institutions to diversify their own collections? These questions are important as Urban Planning tries to incorporate a variety

Abstract Earth Science is one of the least diverse scientific fields, but libraries can play a role in assisting their liaison departments’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts by diversifying our collections and supporting research practices that promote their use. In 2020, the University of California, Berkeley’s Earth & Planetary Science Department graduate students created an impressive

Abstract The John R. Borchert Map Library was the ideal incubator for an experiment that has changed how a wide range of people are thinking about structural racism and the history of race in American urban environments. Mapping Prejudice used a cartographic visualization of racial covenants as the intellectual nexus of a project that transcended disciplinary boundaries and invited community members

Abstract The ability to designate locations as they pertain to information resources is important for documenting both provenance and subject matter. However, the naming of places is a complex matter. This article presents an overview of several common geographic vocabularies in use by libraries and cultural heritage institutions and evaluates them according to criteria corresponding to various user

Published in Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Advances in Geospatial Information, Collections & Archives (Vol. 17, No. 1, 2021)

Abstract Academic libraries have managed print-based aerial photography collections for many years. Some have spent substantial time and effort digitizing items in those collections. Additionally, some libraries have taken on the task of georeferencing these digital images. In recent decades, libraries have begun to receive and manage born-digital georeferenced orthorectified aerial imagery collections

Abstract During the Covid-19 pandemic, libraries closed their physical facilities, offered shorter hours, rearranged and removed furniture, shifted to distance service provision, and used geographic information systems to support information sharing. For several decades, library and information studies have used geographic information systems for multiple purposes, and this occurred more than ever

Abstract The Nebenzahl Lectures, held triennially at the Newberry Library, Chicago, since 1966, have been crucially important in the development of sociocultural map studies. This essay explores their creation within the context of the challenges facing the Newberry in the 1960s, with special attention to the role of Ken and Jossy Nebenzahl; it then examines the significance of R. A. Skelton’s inaugural

Abstract The traditional map library full of map drawers, aerial photographs, atlases and globes has evolved to include computer terminals and data collection equipment. Library patrons are accessing maps and geospatial data digitally. As the library has changed, so has the role of the map librarian. Historically, specialized coursework for map librarianship has been minimal in graduate library science

ABSTRACT The University of Georgia Libraries has been teaching a one credit introductory GIS class as part of the Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Humanities which transforms library education from a one-shot model of teaching map and data literacy, to a credit bearing semester long course that provides a deeper understanding of GIS. The class focuses on student learning objectives, which include

Abstract Libraries have been supporting instruction on GIS and spatial literacy for some time, but the proliferation of digital and spatial technologies and the increasing number of disciplines interested in using them is changing the demands on libraries. One of these tools is digital storytelling - when combined with maps it can be a powerful way to share research and advocate for change. To tell

ABSTRACT The Leventhal Map & Education Center (LMEC) at the Boston Public Library (BPL) has expanded its activities in recent years to include educational and technical support for audiences working with geospatial data, tools and concepts. At the K-12 level, LMEC’s Empowering Maptivists initiative engages Boston public high school students in a deep exploration of the uses of geospatial data and mapping

(2020). Supporting Geography and GIS Education in Libraries Now and into the Future. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, Supporting Geography and GIS Education in Libraries Now and into the Future, pp. 225-228.

(2020). WAML 2020 Conference Highlights. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, Supporting Geography and GIS Education in Libraries Now and into the Future, pp. 317-319.

ABSTRACT The past two decades witnessed the flourishing of GeoWeb, a web infused with geospatial services and applications, which has given rise to a trend that non-experts are increasingly involved in creating digital maps, collecting spatial data, and developing mapping mashups or applications, known as neogeography. In light of that, the general public and researchers/students in higher education

ABSTRACT GIS Day is an annual, international celebration of geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial technologies that provides organizations with an opportunity to help others learn about the real-world applications and positive societal impacts of geography and GIS, highlight services, and celebrate accomplishments. Many academic libraries participate in GIS Day programs, using this well-known

ABSTRACT Understanding data management in spatial data science is fundamentally important when ensuring a project’s data is appropriately collected, analyzed, stored, and communicated. However, these concepts are often introduced to learners through compliance (i.e., we do this because we are required to or it is the right thing to do), and as a result can mean learning experiences around spatial data

(2020). Editorial. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, That Map Belonged to Somebody: The Importance of Provenance for Map Librarians, pp. 79-83.

Abstract This study, demonstrating that the annotations in many older atlases can provide evidence for unraveling intriguing and historically significant stories related to their provenance, is intended to encourage curators to recognize and preserve such annotations for future historical research. The study is based on the discovery of eight exceptional pre-1900 atlases in the collections of the Boston

Abstract This paper deals with the unwritten story of one of the largest collections of early-modern military maps in pre-war Germany, its later dispersion to different institutions, as well as the attempts to reconstruct this cimelia or treasured library of the former Bavarian Army, founded at the beginning of the nineteenth century. During World War II most of the maps of the Wehrkreisbücherei VII

Abstract At the end of World War II, United States Army officers located large troves of maps in Germany and Japan. These materials were shipped back to the United States and deposited with the Army Map Service (AMS). The AMS created a repository service to distribute the captured maps to libraries across the United States eventually sending them to a subset of thirty-five geographically dispersed

Abstract Following the end of World War II the U.S. Army Map Service distributed maps captured from the German military to research libraries across the United States, where they have remained largely hidden collections. One focus of the University of California Berkeley’s German World War II captured maps digitization project has been the creation of detailed metadata for the German military map series

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

(2020). Announcement: Best Paper of the Year Award for Volume 15. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, Supporting Geography and GIS Education in Libraries Now and into the Future, pp. 320-321.

(2020). What Is Everyone Supposed to Be Doing? Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-6.

Abstract The geographic information is a commodity of high economic and political value, which in addition supports a variety of state services to the citizens. The opportunities for libraries are related to the development of geographical services and collections. That makes the guidance and the educational support essential for meeting the needs of a variety of users with a range of skills and levels

Abstract Collection management techniques used in map and geography libraries to describe and provide access to materials ensure researchers can engage with collections as viable sources of research data. Many practitioners create frameworks to market these collections as potential sources of data, whether used alone or alongside other research data. These frameworks bear similarities to the FAIR data

(2020). Announcement: Best Paper of the Year Award for Volume 14. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 27-28.

(2019). Editorial: Information Literacy Instruction in Map and Geography Libraries. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries: Vol. 15, Information Literacy Instruction in Geography and Map Libraries, pp. 97-100.

Abstract The study of location and location-based phenomena is a flourishing field. Many universities have grown their research and/or services in this field (often called GIS), established centers that are primarily engaged in the research of GIS, or applying GIS technologies to support researches of other fields. Some straddle “research of” and “research with” GIS in the same center, engaging in

Abstract Historical geologic map collections are useful tools for librarians to demonstrate the unique construction of knowledge within the academy. A collaboration between the library and faculty in a general education course resuscitated a long-overlooked geologic map collection for an exercise in contextual analysis grounded in critical theory. The visual attributes of the maps revealed more to

Abstract This article describes the process and outcomes of working with an undergraduate writing course as they created original scholarship for a digital map edition. Traditionally, library interventions in writing courses are limited to introducing students to library resources, developing better search terms, and research strategies. More recently librarians have incorporated primary source materials

Abstract As librarians are developing library instruction curricula for map and geography libraries, there are many places where one can find guidance. Instructional frameworks can help organize and teach key competencies and develop literacy of geospatial information for learners. The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education has become

Abstract The current generation of students has grown up in a visually-saturated culture and are generally savvy about engaging with imagery. In the Map Library at the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB), we build on students’ graphical literacy by using maps in instruction sessions. Many of the maps we use in classes are primary sources. Such maps exemplify production techniques, purposes, and cultural

Abstract One of the British Library Digital Scholarship team’s core purposes is to deliver training to Library staff. Running since 2012, the main aim of the Digital Scholarship Training Program (DSTP) is to create opportunities for staff to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to support emerging areas of scholarship. Recently, the Library has been experimenting with a new format to deliver

Abstract This case study will examine how tenure track faculty archivists in Special Collections at Mississippi State University worked to improve undergraduate primary source instruction through collaboration and outreach. Between 2015 and 2019, requests for archival instruction at Mississippi State University increased from an average of one class per semester to ten or more classes per semester

Abstract Indiana University (IU) Libraries hosts a three-day Primary Source Immersion Program (PSIP) for instructors, to help them integrate primary sources into existing or new courses and foster their students’ information literacy skills in relation to primary sources. PSIP draws on the rich collections of IU Libraries, including University Archives, the Lilly Library for rare books and special

Abstract As data literacy competencies become more common in university-level curriculum, understanding how students are really feeling when they first encounter new software and data concepts is of increasing importance to student success. Using sentiment analysis, this article seeks to understand some of those students’ reactions, or sentiments, to using ArcGIS and geospatial data in a university

Abstract The adoption of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education in 2016 coincided with the launch of the digital edition of the Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T) Body of Knowledge. The GIS&T Body of Knowledge and the ACRL Framework share a common goal of providing a flexible, community-driven, living document

The author discusses opportunities for enhancing discovery, explorability, and access for digital aerial imagery collections. These opportunities are informed by a user survey that was conducted to ascertain what properties of aerial imagery users are most interested in when exploring these data, and to learn what methods of access are most desired in order to utilize these data. Conclusions are drawn

Sometimes the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same as the saying goes. This issue of the Journal of Map & Geography Libraries includes four articles that each highlight the age-old challenges of improving discovery, access, documentation, and use of spatial information, but each does so in contemporary, innovative, and/or important ways. The articles discuss new technologies like

Geospatial librarianship has always been inherently tied to technology, requiring that GIS librarians have specialized computer literacy. In recent years, the push for open science, transparency, and improved reproducibility in research has led to increased use of open source geospatial technology. These developments have led to a blending of GIScience with the emerging field of Data Science, and many

The importance of access to spatial data for development and resource management is widely acknowledged worldwide. Unrestricted, reliable and efficient access to accurate, timely, and up-to-date spatial data may be achieved through a spatial data infrastructure. Thus, most developed countries implemented and continue to develop their spatial data infrastructure. In Africa, there is a growing number

In this article, we present documentation of the georeferenced social science survey data that are spatially linked to geospatial data attributes. We introduce the challenges of documentation, as different metadata standards are used for both data sources: social science survey data and geospatial data. In particular, we analyze the extent to which the social sciences metadata standard DDI Lifecycle

Map cataloger and librarian Gwen Curtis, of the University of Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, December 16th, 2018 (Figure 1). Born in Lexington, Kentucky to a military family, Gwen’s early years w...

Geo4LibCamp is a week-long meeting for anyone interested in how libraries can manage and provide access to geospatial resources. Hosted by Stanford University, the primary theme of the event is building spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) in libraries. On the technology side, this includes data repositories, metadata tools, geospatial web services, and discovery platforms. On the human interaction

This paper describes our process for creating metadata for digitized (scanned) maps, using the Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) records of the scanned maps’ original paper counterparts as a starting point. Initially prompted by the need for metadata suitable for a consortial geoportal, we created new MARC records by applying a variety of programmatic edits using the software MarcEdit, as well as

The Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August 2018. The theme of “Leave No One Behind” centered the conference on issues of diversity and inclusion, and included a wide range of presentations. This article presents a review of FOSS4G2018 from the perspectives of a GIS Librarian and an African Studies Librarian.

Geospatial technologies have evolved as a science for location-based problem solving at varying scales – from local, regional, national and even global levels. Location intelligence is the core strength of geospatial technology and enables efficient public administration and ensures proper delivery of government services. Technical advancements in geospatial technology enabled new modes of government

In this editorial, we continue our conversation with readers about the value of map and geography libraries with a focus on the past and likely future trends that have and will continue to define our profession. In doing so, we identified three paradigm shifts that have occurred in map and spatial information librarianship over the last 25 years. Each shift was precipitated by a desire to stay relevant

Current publishing practices in academia tend to result in datasets that are difficult to discover. This is because datasets are not well-integrated across academic domains and they are often not linked to the documents that reference them. For these reasons, discovering datasets across domains can be challenging; for example, discovering archeological observations and biological specimens using the

The past editors are pleased to present last year's best paper award for Volume 13 of the Journal of Map & Geography Libraries to Ms. Tamar Ganor for her article “An Integrated Spatial Search Engine for Maps and Aerial Photographs on a Google Maps API Platform.” The article was published in the second issue. This article presents a unique approach to collection discovery through a spatial search engine

Libraries have been the key to preserving culture and historic legacy for centuries. One such treasure cataloged in The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Libraries is a collection of over 33,000 Sanborn™ Fire Insurance Maps. Originally kept safe in metal drawers, the library has embarked on a journey to digitize this abundance of information, combine it with other media such as photographs

In recent years, the value of print map collections around the world has come into question resulting in the closure and consolidation of many map libraries and their collections (Keller 2001; Andrew and Weimer 2016). The justification for these closures is often that “print maps are no longer relevant in a digital world.” In this editorial, we (Marcy and Nathan) take this opportunity to introduce

Local museums and historical societies often hold rare and unique cartographic resources that compliment larger map collections. A prime example of this is the Flower-Walker Collection at the Tioga Point Museum in Athens Pennsylvania. The museum holds a collection of over 800 hand-drawn, manuscript maps that depict in detail the development of Pennsylvania’s upper Susquehanna Valley from 1790 to 1940

We have reached the completion of volume thirteen of JMGL and in this issue you will find an eclectic selection of articles. Please enjoy reading and using each to your benefit. Leading the way, Jeremy Brett and Sierra Laddusaw share their ongoing work that stems from a unique group of cartographic resources forming the Maps of Imaginary Places Collection at the Cushing Memorial Library at Texas A&M

Can library designs positively impact its surrounding community of users? In what ways do maps and cartographic concepts intersect with graphic design, various forms of art, and digital media? What is at the intersection of archives and dirt? These are just a few of the areas of research and teaching that Dr. Shannon Mattern pursues. Dr. Mattern’s record of scholarship in the area of Media Studies