CLEARINGHOUSE to GIS-based indexes to paper map sets
Announcing the creation of the clearinghouse of GIS-produced indexes to paper map sets.
This group contains ArcGIS layer packages to indexes to paper map sets. The layer packages were created a part of a co-operative initiative begun by the Colorado School of Mines, Yale University, and the American Geographic Society (AGS) Library at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
This group is an open resource to all who may find it useful to have GIS-based indexes to paper maps.
The map packages contain only base information about the paper maps; no library holdings information is included the indexes. At a minimum, the indexes have the sheet numbers. Other data is often added; these fields include, but are not limited to, sheet name, alterative sheet number, year of publication, and series name. When available, links to scanned copies of the paper maps are added.
It is hoped that this will be a co-operative project (a crowdsourced solution to access problems) with the goal of providing a space to house GIS-based indexes to paper maps.
These indexes can be used to create plain map indexes or create indexes that show library holdings. Here is an example of pdf created by joining the map package and library holdings information — http://library.mines.edu/digital/maps/Mexico_250k.pdf
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
You can create indexes using ArcGIS and upload the map packages to arcgis.com. At a minimum, your index must have the outline of ALL the maps in a series (not just the maps that your library owns), and the sheet number (or sheet name if no number exists). The file should be clearly named (e.g. Spain 1:100,000 maps index), and have appropriate tags (country name, scale (e.g. 50k, 100k), “index”, and theme (topography, geology, etc.)). The file must be shared with everyone.
This group is maintained by Christopher J.J. Thiry, Map Librarian, Colorado School of Mines. cthiry@mines.edu 303-273-3697
Christopher J.J. Thiry
Map Librarian
Colorado School of Mines
1400 Illinois
Golden, CO 80401
p. 303-273-3697
f. 303-273-3199
(Oct. 23)