Maps in the Local History Division, Central Library of

Rochester and Monroe County

RRLC Archives Day 2011

Why are maps important?

• Dr. Edward Tufte from Yale, a renowned data visualization expert, has said that quality cartography is without equal in visual information density.

• RPL holds many maps that are good examples of that statement.

Questions and Answers!

• How many are there?

• How are they arranged?

• What formats?

• How are they accessed?

• How are they used by patrons?

• What has been done digitally?

• Any outreach?

How many are there?

• There are roughly 3000 maps tin the collections, with cases in the division.

• These include plat maps, USGS survey maps, items taken from city directories, and wall maps from various sources.

Plat maps

How are they arranged?

• Basically, thematically. But there are other considerations such as fragility, size,

and how often they are used. Frequently used maps have to be easily accessible but also be kept safe and handled carefully.

Gloves are provided for patron use with the original maps.

Where the elephant folios live…

And yet more maps

What formats are they in?

• Naturally, most of them are on paper. But here are some that are on aperture cards. A picture follows.

• Others are in digital format, and still others appear on the page of books. Some of those books have been digitized.

Aperture cards

How are they accessed?

• 1. From the actual map files.• 2. From Rochester Images. These have full

descriptions and cataloging. They also can use the free Zoomify software to enlarge and enhance the viewing of the maps.

• 3. Local History has a separate web guide to what maps are online and cataloging for them

• Alma Burner Creek’s book “Maps of the Genesee Valley” is still a good start, and so is James Folt’s “Genesee Region”

See: http://www.libraryweb.org/rochimag/maps/home.htm

Sample picture of a plat map online.

A (bad) example of a screenshot of an aperture card in use on a microfilm flat reader.

How are they used by patrons

• People doing house histories.

• People doing brownfields research for environmental reasons.

• Historians

• Genealogists

• Students

From 5 years ago -

Can they be copied?

• No, not on a photocopier. But if they have been digitized, patrons can access or purchase digital copies. They are also welcome to take their own digital photos, or order a scan.

What has been done digitally

• About 750 maps have been made digitally. Examples are found on the library’s map pathfinders page.

• If they have been digitized, then copies can be made for access and use. These are especially popular with teachers and students.

Examples of Outreach:

• The library did a display at the local GIS-SIG in April 2011, and following are a few pictures from it.

• Story about big map -see slide!• Maps are used as part of the online exhibits,

Many Roads to Freedom, and also in Rochester’s First Superhighway: the Erie Canal.

One of the featured speakers found important family information on these maps!

Great location at the main room entry

2 people checking out the County copy maps

Plans for the future?• Catalog the maps so that they can be easily found

online in the main library catalog. • Digitize more maps for easier access.• Have more hard copy prints made from delicate older

maps to enhance accessibility and encourage use, especially by students.

• Perhaps sell copies of some of the more popular maps?

• Encourage the use of the maps for KML/KMZ files.

What’s a KML?

• It's the method that Google Earth uses to collect all of the data that you add to your map (video, layers, photos, place marks, etc) and keep it all together so that it can be saved and opened again. Students or others can visualize and appreciate concepts in a new way.

Example

Where are the maps that belonged to the RHS?

• They are now in the collection of the RHS, which is located on the north side of the second floor of the Rundel building.

Is there a “catalog” of maps within books?

• No. Users may have a reference to one, or staff knowledge can allow access. But if there are useful maps within a title, the only effective access is through a reference in the “hard-to-find” ready reference file. A good example of that would be Native American settlements, geological data, etc. Folts’ and Creek’s books attempt this.

Usage metrics.

• The division makes a written record of its questions, and has for decades. These show map use. But there have never been sign in or sign out sheets specifically for their use.