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Ligue des Bibliothèques Europeénnes de Recherche, Groupe des Cartothécaires de LIBER
TRANSLATE ENGLISH to Français, Deutsch, Italiano, Português, Español! Explanation
1. The situation in general
Changes in the information world
In this day and age fast-paced changes are taking place everywhere. Initiated by highly innovative computer technology new possibilities of conveying information are opening up. Accordingly cartography itself is subject to transformation. Internet and computerized cartography set new standards and the formation of geographical information systems (GIS) adds a totally new dimension to spatial information.
Spatial data, i.e. information with geographical reference, has become important in almost every area of modern life and economy. GIS is the magic acronym that enables us to display countless statistical and numerical data through our computers, describing complex situations and processes on earth in a visual way. An important part of this visualization is the digital or electronic map.
Digital maps in map collections?
As this development does not stop outside the map reading room the question is: Are electronic maps a necessity in the map library or do we leave this field of information to others and stick to traditional (analogue) maps?
A modern map collection has to offer both traditional and digital material - this is our firm belief. Only in this way may the profession of map librarianship justify its existence in the coming millennium.
Fig. 1. Traditional cartographic materials with the ETH-Bibliothek, Zürich, Switzerland.
Fig. 2. Digital cartographic materials with the ETH-Bibliothek, Zürich, Switzerland.
Who else but the map librarian will be able to supply the public with all sorts of data from GIS? Who else will provide maps on the Internet and find solutions for archiving digital maps? You certainly cannot expect to find electronic maps in every map library. However, a majority of collections in our university and state libraries have to face their duty and make electronic media available to their customers. Today's CD-ROM products can be looked upon as "conditioning drugs". Other sorts of digital data might be much more important though: GIS offers digital maps in multimedia surroundings and makes the accessing of a world wide supply of maps on the Internet possible.
2. Acquiring technology for digital maps in the library
With its concept to acquire "modern" maps the ETH Bibliothek Zurich faced the task of following developments in computerized cartography closely from early on. Consequently the integration of digital maps into the collection was decided in 1993. The 9th conference of the Groupe des Cartothécaires de LIBER in October 1994 in Zurich, dealing with "Map Curatorship in Transition: Computerized Maps, a New Environment", actually initiated the realization of these plans.
Choice of cartographic software
Through repeated visits to several fairs and producers and by studying professional literature a profile of our needs was formed. Contrary to map producing institutions the map library does not need complex multitask software. It does require, however, user-friendly tools for easy access to as many different products as possible. Thus we have chosen the following:
Choice of hardware
Digital maps needing high performance software also call for high quality hardware. Otherwise a lot of problems will occur and many products simply will not work. Personal computers, in order to host graphic software and GIS, must meet certain minimum standards. In 1997 our PCs had the following technical standard:
3. Supply of digital maps in the map collection
The speciality of the Map Collection of the ETH-Bibliothek lies in its diversified collection of digital maps, all simultaneously available:
CD-ROM products
Some 40 CD-ROMs are available, among them: Regional and world atlases, topographic maps, city and town plans, street atlases, thematic data bases like the World Climate Data Base, satellite images and geographical indexes. Our list of CD-ROMs can be viewed at the Website
Map Collection: Electronic Media = Kartensammlung: Elektronische Medien.
GIS products
Recently there has been a growing demand for GIS data available in databases. To meet this demand three PC stations were especially equipped. Users should have the knowledge to perform these kinds of database searches themselves. At the moment the following services can be accessed:
Digital atlas of Switzerland
The "Digital Atlas of Switzerland" produced by the Institute of Cartography, ETH Zurich, is one of the most interesting projects in the field of national maps. It offers new ideas on presenting thematic maps, like three-dimensional portrayal of relief and panoramic views that can be modified in terms of orientation, height and incidence of light. The project was well received at the International Conference on Cartography in Stockholm. The ETH Map Department is proud as one of the first institutions to present this atlas to its customers.
4. Finding maps on the Internet
The Swiss Internet site The World of Maps = Die Welt der Karten is an efficient tool for searching maps and spatial data on the World Wide Web. Comprehensively covering other areas of cartography such as map collections, map archives, map librarianship and map producers, and having links to numerous important Web sites makes the site one of the most interesting in the field of maps. The ETH Map Library is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of both the German and English versions.
5. Digitizing our Holdings and the Internet Project "Virtual Library Eduard Imhof"
A further interesting possibility is the digitization of printed maps from the library's own holdings in order to obtain:
Fig. 4. Eduard Imhof (1895-1986) constructing the scalemodel 1:2,000 of the Windgällenrelief.
Fig. 5. Bird's eye view made by Eduard Imhof, 1895-1986 (pen and ink, water colour).
6. Electronic index sheets to map series
Digital maps can also be used for map librarianship.
Locating a map sheet of a map series has required consulting an index sheet. The computer technology has made it possible to find the sheets via a graphical catalogue on the screen. A first step is the implementation of electronic index sheets to map series, as for example Mr Joachim Lamatsch from Freiburg is developing. The Map Collection of ETH Zurich covers the whole area of Europe by these electronic index sheets. Not only do these index sheets offer valuable information to the users, but they can also be used for acquisition control. Newly purchased map sheets can easily be pasted to an index sheet by a mouse click. There are plans to link the index sheets with corresponding catalogue entries in the new cataloguing system of the ETH Bibliothek.
Image information in catalogues
Textual catalogue information of map documents is often not satisfactory. A map image would certainly be of great help to the user and reduce the descriptive part of the catalogue entry. Agnes Kovacs, in her thesis submitted for the diploma
Bildinformation in Bibliothekskatalogen - aufgezeigt am Beispiel eines Landkartenkatalogs, tried to gain some experience in finding strategies about incorporating visual information into future library catalogues. The resulting "Kartenkatalog mit Bildinformation" shows 40 examples of how attractive and useful catalogue entries can be with digital images.
Summary
Spatial data, information about the earth, our living space, has become essential for today's world. With geographical information systems, it is possible to visualize vast amounts of geographically related data thanks to advanced computer technologies, the latter offering a powerful tool for analysis and practical work. The electronic or digital map is an important tool for visualization.
The Map Collection of the ETH Bibliothek Zurich decided in 1993 to offer digital maps as well as traditional ones.
Extensive research lead to technical solutions for hardware and software. The following was chosen: