Map Users: An Informal Conversation for LIS Professionals

Dawn WrightLibrary 220Assignment 2

Know the map users in your community

LIS professionals may be the first persons to speak in person, on the phone, or online, to community members seeking information about maps.

Informal conversations or surveys give the professional information about who and what is needed in their specific locality.

Knowing the needs and demographics of your community helps you better serve that community.

Informal Demographic Study An informal conversation with six

professional and personal map users in the rural community of Raymond, Washington. Population 2,883 (City-Data.com)

Age of Respon-dents

less than 30 (2)30-60 (2)greater than 60 (2)

Sex of Respon-

dent

Male (4)Female (2)

Education Level of Respon-

dent

Less than High School (1)

High School Graduate (2)

College Graduate (3)

Respondent #1Commercial Crab Fisherman Uses paper nautical maps and graphs to

locate crab Anomalies, debris and dangers, not

found on commercially available maps, are noted and uploaded by computer to the US Coast Guard, for dissimilation to other mariners.

Respondent #1 uses topographical chart 18504, of Willapa Bay

Chart 18504. NOAA, Office of Coast Survey

NOAA Notice To Mariners, Willapa Bay, Toke Point

Respondent #2 60-Something Logger Les uses topographical maps provided

by Weyerhaeuser Logging Company, to find the Unit location to begin logging operations.

The men use the maps to determine the terrain for all aspects of the daily work

Maps at the Weyerhaeuser main site are referenced if there is an accident miles from civilization: “The map we have is life and death for us.”(From Conversation Les G. 09/15/2012)

Respondent #3 Plot Survey Contractor Bob L. uses topographical maps from the USGS,

to find and map tracts of land, as a contract employee for Weyerhaeuser.

Respondent #4 Geology Student

Samantha A. used maps as a Geology student, mapping desert topography in Field Camp.

USGS topographical maps were the basis for adding specific geologic features.

Concerns for efficacy of previous mappers. What if they are not accurate?

“Making maps is gnarly” (From conversation with Samantha A. 09/16/2012)

Respondent #5 PUD employee Travis W. is a newly hired, part-time PUD

employee, recently graduated from college.

He uses “big maps” supplied from the PUD to locate and mark underground features for private land owners, before they begin excavation for land improvement.

“We use maps from the office. I really don’t know their names” (From conversation with Travis W. 09/16/2012).

Respondent #6 Flower Shop Owner Lynne G. is a business owner for the last 30

years in Raymond Surprisingly, as a delivery person, she does

not utilize maps. “I don’t use any maps. I used to, when I first

started deliveries, a long time ago. But now I know where everything is, based on where people live, are born or die. Streets don’t change, and I can always tell where to take something, because that map is in my head” (From conversation with Lynne G. 09/14/2012).

Conclusion:Know your community and users, to best serve both

-Users might not be able to articulate what they need. Names of maps, types of maps, formats and features might be more colloquial, and will require more in depth interviewing for accurate needs assessment.

-Users in small communities might be wary of librarians and libraries, fearing they might look foolish asking questions. 66% of respondents are males, employed in traditionally male oriented professions (crab fishing, logging, PUD). Professionals using maps in their employment, who are not comfortable asking questions, would benefit from understanding and gentle questioning during the reference interview, to put them at ease and to elicit more information.

- Four of the five respondents worked full time, 9-5:00 jobs. Libraries might consider community hours, to best serve all patrons, including professionals.

-There are wide ranges of map users in this small survey. If they are representative of a community, then there are many types of map users, utilizing a number of map formats, types and uses. The Library professional cannot know everything there is to know about all types of maps. But it would behoove the professional to know the basics, and how to access many types of maps: in print and online.

-The community, and its map users, is a wellspring of information. Libraries and librarians should tap this resource. Informal conversations, like the ones outlined here, could easily be transformed, into community education sessions at the library.