The History and Current Direction of Canadian Map Libraries

The History and Current Direction The History and Current Direction of Canadian Map Librariesof Canadian Map Libraries

Marcel Fortin, Marcel Fortin,

GIS & Map LibrarianGIS & Map Librarian

ALA / Map and Geography Round Table, June 23, 2003

OverviewOverview

History of Map Libraries in CanadaHistory of Map Libraries in Canada Past Issues and Developments Past Issues and Developments Current Challenges and Current Challenges and

DevelopmentsDevelopments Future of Map Libraries in CanadaFuture of Map Libraries in Canada

Map Libraries in Canada

Map Libraries in Canada in 1954Map Libraries in Canada in 1954

Canada Canada 31 map collections*31 map collections* United States United States 500 map collections500 map collections

* (Canadian population is always at about 10 % of * (Canadian population is always at about 10 % of American Population)American Population)

* 8 Universities with 13 collections* 8 Universities with 13 collections

Why so few?Why so few?- No strong depository agreements- No strong depository agreements- No legal deposit- No legal deposit- No startup collections from the US Army Map Service - No startup collections from the US Army Map Service

mapsmaps- Not many Universities- Not many Universities


1960’s: Growth1960’s: Growth 1967 45 Collections1967 45 Collections 1969 87 Collections (562 in the US) 1969 87 Collections (562 in the US) WHY?WHY? Canadian Centennial in 1967Canadian Centennial in 1967 Mapping agencies at full force as Canada was exploring Mapping agencies at full force as Canada was exploring

and developing in its quest for natural resourcesand developing in its quest for natural resources Canadian studies / geography encouragedCanadian studies / geography encouraged Universities grew to accommodate the Baby BoomersUniversities grew to accommodate the Baby Boomers Depository system grew to accommodate the Depository system grew to accommodate the

UniversitiesUniversities New map Libraries formed at new universitiesNew map Libraries formed at new universitiesRESULT:RESULT: Growth - Association of Canadian Map Libraries formed in Growth - Association of Canadian Map Libraries formed in

19671967


Why ACML(A)?Why ACML(A)?

Temporary organizationTemporary organization Librarians identified more with the subject Librarians identified more with the subject

than with other librariansthan with other librarians Membership was also from the archival Membership was also from the archival

and government fieldsand government fields Was to eventually merge with a broader Was to eventually merge with a broader

library association but never didlibrary association but never did To tackle some of the big issues of the dayTo tackle some of the big issues of the day


Early Issues in Early Issues in Map Librarianship in CanadaMap Librarianship in Canada

National Union Catalogue National Union Catalogue Bibliographic ControlBibliographic Control Computer CataloguingComputer Cataloguing Depository system / ResourcesDepository system / Resources Legal depositLegal deposit Education / Training of Map LibrariansEducation / Training of Map Librarians


Depository ServicesDepository Services

Began in 1907 but to a select fewBegan in 1907 but to a select few Depository agreement law in 1955Depository agreement law in 1955 Implementation in 1957Implementation in 1957 Somewhat Standardized by the Somewhat Standardized by the

1960’s1960’s Still ironing out the details of Still ironing out the details of

agreements in 2003!agreements in 2003!


Legal DepositLegal Deposit

ACMLA has been lobbying the government ACMLA has been lobbying the government since 1967 for a National Map Librarysince 1967 for a National Map Library

In 1969 officially requested the In 1969 officially requested the government to impose a law demanding government to impose a law demanding legal deposit on mapslegal deposit on maps

ACMLA letter in 2002 for legal deposit on ACMLA letter in 2002 for legal deposit on cartographic material (digital and paper)cartographic material (digital and paper)

ACMLA about to send yet another letter in ACMLA about to send yet another letter in 20032003


Map Library EducationMap Library Education

1960’s Difficult to find trained 1960’s Difficult to find trained librarians with “map sense”librarians with “map sense”

1970’s University of Toronto offered 1970’s University of Toronto offered a course in map librarianshipa course in map librarianship

1990’s-2000’s Still an issue, 1990’s-2000’s Still an issue, especially with GISespecially with GIS


Map Library GrowthMap Library Growth


1970’s-1980’s: Growth1970’s-1980’s: Growth

1980 1980 111111 Collections (684 in the US) Collections (684 in the US)

1986 1986 122122 Collections (716 in the US) Collections (716 in the US)ACML changed to ACMLA – 1987ACML changed to ACMLA – 1987


Why the growth?Why the growth?

1970’s – 1980’s Period of expansion, depository 1970’s – 1980’s Period of expansion, depository system was at full force including USGS and system was at full force including USGS and other foreign government agreementsother foreign government agreements

1970, “Every Square Inch” of Canada was 1970, “Every Square Inch” of Canada was mapped at 1:250,000mapped at 1:250,000

Government Objective: map Canada at Government Objective: map Canada at 1:50,000 by 19951:50,000 by 1995

Continued expansion of UniversitiesContinued expansion of Universities


Period of DeclinePeriod of Decline

1992 1992 112112 Collections (974 in the US) Collections (974 in the US) 1999 1999 9191 Collections Collections


Why the decline in 1990’s?Why the decline in 1990’s?

Budget IssuesBudget Issues Technology / GIS Technology / GIS Data CultureData Culture


Budgets Budgets

CAUSESCAUSES Funding at the Government / University level drainedFunding at the Government / University level drained Budgets were strained by the economyBudgets were strained by the economyEFFECTSEFFECTS Depository Agreements changed / disappearedDepository Agreements changed / disappeared- USGSUSGS- NRCan (fewer maps made, fewer published, fewer NRCan (fewer maps made, fewer published, fewer

distributed, Canada still not mapped completely at distributed, Canada still not mapped completely at 1:50,000)1:50,000)

Mergers / Reorganizations (MadGIC effect) / MovesMergers / Reorganizations (MadGIC effect) / Moves Early Retirement Incentives offered to map library leadersEarly Retirement Incentives offered to map library leadersRESULTSRESULTS Fewer map libraries and fewer map librariansFewer map libraries and fewer map librarians


Technology / GISTechnology / GIS

Discussion of GIS in libraries (1979); Discussion of GIS in libraries (1979); The demise of the library came along The demise of the library came along with itwith it

Change from paper focus to digital Change from paper focus to digital focus in libraries affected all librariesfocus in libraries affected all libraries

Libraries seen as passéLibraries seen as passé


Map Library’s PerceptionMap Library’s Perception

Perception of the Map Library Perception of the Map Library changed because of technology / GIS changed because of technology / GIS

Seen as outdatedSeen as outdated No longer a place for geographic No longer a place for geographic

education (many don’t know we education (many don’t know we exist)exist)

Users shifted back to the geography Users shifted back to the geography department for data and helpdepartment for data and help


Data Culture in CanadaData Culture in Canada Canada / United States: tremendous Canada / United States: tremendous

differencedifference Data costs prohibitiveData costs prohibitive- Natural Resources Canada tiles at 1:50,000 on average cost Natural Resources Canada tiles at 1:50,000 on average cost

$800.00 per sheet$800.00 per sheet- Provincial Base Map Data at 1:20000 and 1:10000 $110.00 Provincial Base Map Data at 1:20000 and 1:10000 $110.00

per sheetper sheet- Landsat images jumped from $0 - $5000 in the early 80’sLandsat images jumped from $0 - $5000 in the early 80’s

Attitude of Governments too protective Attitude of Governments too protective and vendors caught in betweenand vendors caught in between


The Unexpected Still Occurred: The Unexpected Still Occurred: GIS librarianship!GIS librarianship!

Most map libraries offer at least the Most map libraries offer at least the most basic services in GISmost basic services in GIS

For many, GIS has become the For many, GIS has become the modus operandimodus operandi

Becoming the centre for data Becoming the centre for data


How did this transformation Occur?How did this transformation Occur?


Reasons for TransformationReasons for Transformation

Map Librarians have worked hard at Map Librarians have worked hard at self-training and broadening their self-training and broadening their visionvision

Reclaiming the role as educators in Reclaiming the role as educators in geographic informationgeographic information

ACMLA has made things happen and ACMLA has made things happen and kept the membership educated and kept the membership educated and informedinformed

More Reasons for the Transformation: More Reasons for the Transformation: Mergers are not always bad!Mergers are not always bad!

Government Publications Librarians Government Publications Librarians (dealt with changes to depository agreements)(dealt with changes to depository agreements)

Science Librarians Science Librarians (dealt with technical (dealt with technical subjects)subjects)

Data Librarians Data Librarians (dealt with data issues well (dealt with data issues well before GIS)before GIS)


Data LibrariansData Librarians

Digital Census data and Satellite Digital Census data and Satellite imagery in some University Data imagery in some University Data Libraries since the 1970’sLibraries since the 1970’s

Canadian Association of Research Canadian Association of Research Libraries Census Consortium (CARL) - Libraries Census Consortium (CARL) - (1988)(1988)

CARL – Census Consortium – (1991)CARL – Census Consortium – (1991)


Data LandmarksData Landmarks

In 1995, Phase III of the In 1995, Phase III of the ARL GIS ARL GIS Literacy ProjectLiteracy Project 27 Canadian 27 Canadian Universities and the National Library Universities and the National Library of Canadaof Canada

Statistics Canada - Data Liberation Statistics Canada - Data Liberation Initiative (1996) replaces all data Initiative (1996) replaces all data consortia for one yearly feeconsortia for one yearly fee


More LandmarksMore Landmarks

www.GeoConnections.orgwww.GeoConnections.org (1998) (1998) KPMG Study on pricing (2001)KPMG Study on pricing (2001) NRCan – National Topographic Database NRCan – National Topographic Database

(2002)(2002) www.DMTIspatial.comwww.DMTIspatial.com consortium consortium Provincial Agreements (OGDE for fee, Provincial Agreements (OGDE for fee,

Manitoba for free)Manitoba for free) Municipal government agreementsMunicipal government agreements ESRI Site licensesESRI Site licenses


Things are looking good but there Things are looking good but there are challenges and changes aheadare challenges and changes ahead


Funding – our success comes with a Funding – our success comes with a priceprice

Data management – famine to feastData management – famine to feast Administrative changesAdministrative changes Data and map legal deposit Data and map legal deposit Abandonment of map collectionsAbandonment of map collections Changing user baseChanging user base

How do we meet and beat these How do we meet and beat these challenges?challenges?


On the HorizonOn the Horizon


Funding IssuesFunding Issues• DonationsDonations• ContractsContracts• Cost RecoveryCost Recovery• Data selling, storage, conversionData selling, storage, conversion• TeachingTeaching• PartnershipsPartnerships• Grant ProposalsGrant Proposals


Data managementData management ConsortiaConsortia Collaborative projects for data Collaborative projects for data

distribution / managementdistribution / management Smartly hire good networking / web Smartly hire good networking / web

managers to help create Geography managers to help create Geography Network type applicationsNetwork type applications


On the HorizonOn the HorizonAdministrative IssuesAdministrative Issues

RetirementsRetirements Map Library Association membership Map Library Association membership

dwindlingdwindling More moves and mergersMore moves and mergers Librarians dealing with the Librarians dealing with the

geographic who have no geographic geographic who have no geographic experienceexperience


Data and Map Legal depositData and Map Legal deposit- Still no map and data legal deposit in Still no map and data legal deposit in

CanadaCanada- National Library / National Archives National Library / National Archives

merging in 2003 (ACMLA lobbying for merging in 2003 (ACMLA lobbying for new law for merger to include legal new law for merger to include legal deposit)deposit)

- Do you trust your government to Do you trust your government to preserve your data / history?preserve your data / history?




On the HorizonOn the HorizonDo you trust your government?

Source: topozone.com


On the HorizonOn the HorizonDo you trust your government?

Source: NTS Sheet 32c011st edition 2nd edition

- Do we abandon the map and our Do we abandon the map and our history in our struggles for data?history in our struggles for data?

- No, the wise patrons and librarians No, the wise patrons and librarians know not to trust their governmentsknow not to trust their governments

- People are still using our map People are still using our map collections!collections!



Users are asking for paper Users are asking for paper maps and GIS data!maps and GIS data!

• About 55% of patrons of map libraries in North About 55% of patrons of map libraries in North America walk away with both digital and paper America walk away with both digital and paper maps for their research. (2000 survey*)maps for their research. (2000 survey*)


* Published in Stone Muilenburg, J. “The changing role of GIS in the map room”, in The Map Library in the New Millennium. London: LAP, 2000

On the Horizon – Expanding On the Horizon – Expanding Base of UsersBase of Users

•Geography but also …•Landscape Architecture•Geology•History•Environmental Science•Engineering•And more


NOTE: All Ontario High School students are currently learning GIS as part of the curriculum

Map Library is regaining its status as Map Library is regaining its status as the Centre for Geographic Information the Centre for Geographic Information

and Educationand Education SoftwareSoftware EquipmentEquipment SkillsSkills Building large data “libraries”Building large data “libraries” We’ve got the original GIS – the We’ve got the original GIS – the

maps!maps!


The future of Map Libraries may be in the pastThe future of Map Libraries may be in the past


Garrison Creek and Parcel DataGarrison Creek and Parcel Data


Creating new parcel dataCreating new parcel data


ConclusionConclusion Resurgence in the map library as a place for Resurgence in the map library as a place for

geographic educationgeographic education But, we must educate and convince our But, we must educate and convince our

administration why what we do is importantadministration why what we do is important Alternatives to funding required to keep growingAlternatives to funding required to keep growing Map Library Associations have to be ever more Map Library Associations have to be ever more

vigilant as advocates – must bond with other vigilant as advocates – must bond with other associations and data librariansassociations and data librarians

Protect and use our map collections until we get Protect and use our map collections until we get legal depositlegal deposit

Remember that GIS is a tool for geographic Remember that GIS is a tool for geographic information and that our maps are still just as information and that our maps are still just as importantimportant


Documents

The History and Current Direction of Canadian Map Libraries