Delivering Digital Data into the Library: The Digimap Project and its Impact on the Map Room– the Bodleian Library Experience

This paper will consider the Digimap Project – its introduction into the Bodleian Library, how it has evolved, and how digital data’s arrival in the Library might influence future developments

The LIBER GdC map library usage survey, Summer 2003

This paper represents an analysis of map library usage across Europe in 2002/03, and an attempt to identify significant trends. Proposals are suggested to both address and exploit the behavioural patterns revealed in responses gathered from map users across the continent

The LIBER Groupe des Carthothécaires Map Library Usage Survey, Summer 2003: a Mandate for Change?

At the 2002 Helsinki meeting, the LIBER Groupe des Cartothécaires Working Group for Education suggested a survey of map usage in our libraries. Using Jan Smits’ 1987-88 survey as our reference point, we decided to re-examine map usage in the early 21st century, attempting to identify shifting requirements created by the rapidly evolving technological advances being made in cartography, and, by our map libraries hosting these changes. Could this new survey act as a catalyst for change? The Chairman of the Working Group for Education acquired Jan’s questionnaire, and along with Group representatives Jürg Bühler and Mira Miletic Drder, added a number of new categories whilst removing some of the previously outdated fields. What evolved was distributed to Groupe des Cartothécaires’ National Correspondents and made available on the Working Group for Education’s website in fifteen different languages. It was therefore possible to ask all respondents the same questions and allow comparison across the continent. The timing of the survey (1st June to 1st September 2003) was chosen in order to meet the publication deadline for an article scheduled for imminent publication in Geoscapes. Unfortunately a number of libraries commented that the summer was their “quiet” period. By way of comparison, Jan reported that 96 institutions returned a total of 2,847 questionnaires in preparation for his 1991 paper, way in excess of the 2003 response rate. In defence of last year’s questionnaire, at three months, the survey period was much shorter than that available to our predecessors

Bibliography

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Bibliography

The full-text of this article is not currently available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page

Bibliography

The full-text of this article is not currently available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page

Exploring medieval Britain: The Gough Map, the map library and the research community

The Gough Map of Great Britain is one of the Bodleian Library’s most significant cultural and cartographic treasures: it is the earliest surviving modern map of Britain, showing a recognizable coastline, dating from around 1360, and until recently identified as the first road map of the country. This paper will examine how the map library has recently been pivotal in encouraging new research on an enigmatic object of unknown origin and function. The intention is to demonstrate that not only is the map library the custodian of this particular artefact, but to emphasize how its rôle extends to identifying the map’s research potential, facilitating its academic exploitation, attracting collaborators, and disseminating information. The map’s known history and content will be explained before outlining an agenda for future academic discovery. Based on an initial scan and desire for additional textual support material both driven from the map library, this paper will examine progress made within the Bodleian and beyond, working alongside multi-disciplinary colleagues from around the World to ascertain why the Gough Map was made, for whom was it made, and why was it made. It will be demonstrated that the map library has been the focus around which all subsequent investigation has been concentrated, leading the drive for future co-ordinated research, conservation, publications, and a possible travelling exhibition

Exploring medieval Britain

The Gough Map of Great Britain is one of the Bodleian Library’s most significant cultural and cartographic treasures: it is the earliest surviving modern map of Britain, showing a recognizable coastline, dating from around 1360, and until recently identified as the first road map of the country. This paper will examine how the map library has recently been pivotal in encouraging new research on an enigmatic object of unknown origin and function. The intention is to demonstrate that not only is the map library the custodian of this particular artefact, but to emphasize how its rôle extends to identifying the map’s research potential, facilitating its academic exploitation, attracting collaborators, and disseminating information. The map’s known history and content will be explained before outlining an agenda for future academic discovery. Based on an initial scan and desire for additional textual support material both driven from the map library, this paper will examine progress made within the Bodleian and beyond, working alongside multi-disciplinary colleagues from around the World to ascertain why the Gough Map was made, for whom was it made, and why was it made. It will be demonstrated that the map library has been the focus around which all subsequent investigation has been concentrated, leading the drive for future co-ordinated research, conservation, publications, and a possible travelling exhibition