How to Get Help from Colleagues
Cartographic specialists are often located in institutions where they are the only people who work with maps or Geographic Information Systems (GIS). When questions arise, there is nobody to ask for assistance. Fortunately, there are ways to get help from afar.
Several items on the "electronic publications" page of this site are designed to provide basic information for new map librarians. In addition, WAML (the Western Association of Map Libraries) has put together a useful list of practical information in its Map Librarian's Tool Box.
Listservs
If you have a specific question, your best bet is often to ask it on a listserv. The following listservs are specific to map, geography and GIS libraries and librarianship.
MAPS-L – the most important listserv for map librarians, MAPS-L is an international discussion forum for librarians dealing with cartographic information, cartographers, remote sensors, geographers, and cartomaniacs of all types. Topics discussed include anything related to map libraries, cartographic information, remote sensing systems, geography, map cataloging and cartomania in general.
MAPHIST – discussion group whose primary focus is historical maps, atlases, globes and other cartographic documents. The list is open to all persons interested in the history of cartography and discussion is encouraged on all aspects of this broad subject.
GIS4LIB – discussion group for issues relating to geographic information systems (GIS) and libraries, whether academic, private, corporate, etc. Topics may include discussion of hardware, software, data acquisition, licensing, collection development, etc.
Ask a Map or GIS Librarian
Here follows a list of librarians and information specialists who are willing to answer questions from other professionals concerning issues relating to maps and GIS in libraries. They can be consulted by e-mail or by phone. If you want to talk by phone, please contact the person first by e-mail to set up an appointment.
| Digital Data and GIS: | ||
| Tsering Wangyal Shawa Geographic Information Systems Librarian Geosciences and Map Library, Guyot Hall Princeton University Princeton, NJ 08544 Telephone: 609/258-6804 Fax: 609/258-1274 shawatw@princeton.edu |
Pete Reehling Geographic Information Librarian 4202 E. Fowler Ave. LIB 122 University of South Florida Tampa, FL 33620 Phone: 813/974-1647 reehling@lib.usf.edu |
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| Digital Imaging, Preservation, Dublin Core Metadata General Questions: |
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| Scott R. McEathron Map Librarian Anschutz Library University of Kansas 1301 Hoch Auditoria Drive Lawrence, KS 66045-7537 Telephone: 785/864-4662 Email: macmap68@ku.edu |
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| Small Map Collections: | ||
| Joseph M. Winkler Coordinator of the Research Collections St. Louis Public Library 1301 Olive St. Saint Louis, Mo 63103 Telephone: 314/539-0344 Fax: 314/539-0393 Jwinkler@slpl.lib.mo.us |
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| Cataloging: | ||
| Susan Moore Rod Library University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Telephone: 319/273-2913 Fax: 319/273-2913 susan.moore@uni.edu |
Paige Andrew 126N Paterno Library University Libraries Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 Telephone: 814/865-1755 Fax: 814/867-0786 pga@psu.edu |
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| Map and Atlas Acquisitions: | ||
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Angie Cope |
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Revised 05/25/2010