Map Collection Development Policy
The Map Collection is primarily located on the ground floor of the library. Materials in the Map Collection include: unique maps of local areas, state, regional, and historical maps from a variety of sources.
Users & Programs Supported
The collection is accessible to all patrons with user privileges, though materials generally are not available for circulation. The fragile nature of the maps makes them poor candidates for check out. The map collection is an important resource for the Geography, Geology and History faculties of the university. Additionally, the collection supports the local and regional community.
Selection Responsibility
Ultimate responsibility for the selection, acquisition, and disposition of map materials rests with the Library Director. Continual evaluation of and selection for the collection is the responsibility of the designated map librarian under the leadership of the Director. The Map Librarian will work cooperatively with the Government Documents Librarian in making map selections from government agencies as a part of the Federal and State Depository Library programs.
Selection Criteria
The emphasis of the Map Collection is to provide access to cartographically important items in support of the curriculum and the community, and the provision of general geographic information about the state of Oregon.
EOU Pierce library is a designated Federal and State depository library. Maps are selectively collected from a variety of relevant government agencies, including United States Geologic Service (USGS), United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the United States Forest Service (USFS). Specifically; the USGS – 7.5 minute topographic series (Idaho, Oregon and Washington), USGS 1:250,000 National Topographic Maps (Western & Eastern) United States series (entire U.S.), BLM 1:100,000 Geologic Survey or Surface Management series (Oregon), USFS Individual Forest User Maps (Oregon).
All maps will be evaluated according to the ability to successfully store and maintain the materials.
Collection Scope
Formats: Maps will be bought in the highest quality paper formats available, with preference given to maps in Mylar sleeves.
Level: The primary focus of the Map Collection is general and historical information about the state.
Language: Maps will be purchased primarily in the English language.
Copies: The library will typically maintain only one copy of an item. Duplicate 7.5 min. topographic maps for Oregon will be filed for historic and back file purposes.
Formats: The following formats are included in the general collection: print materials; online materials (maps, databases); micro formats; i.e. Sanborn maps. Materials in formats which cannot be supported by EOU or Pierce Library will not be purchased, or accepted as gifts.
The following types of materials will not be collected routinely by the library for the Map Collection [except in the case where they are selected from the Federal Depository Library Program.]:
- Popular hiking materials (recreation maps)
- Tourist / Road maps
- Titles or subject areas with a narrow appeal, and outside the scope of the collection
Collection Arrangement
Maps from both private publishers and government agencies are arranged either by Library of Congress (LC) call number classification, Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) classification, or alphabetically by title (topographic maps). The main map collection is housed on the ground floor of the library. Maps in micro formats are located on the main floor (lib 113) with other micro format materials. A small number of FDLP maps are shelved in the Government Document Collection on the 2nd floor balcony.
Collection Maintenance
Maintaining the Map Collection is critical to access the information; material that is missing or misplaced serves no one. The goal of the inventory/shelf-reading process is to ensure that materials are on the shelf and in the prescribed location. Often material is intentionally or accidentally miss-shelved. When this happens the items appear as available in the catalog, while in fact they are missing. The circulation [? are circulation students trained to do this?] students will annually review the map collection for missing and / or miss-shelved items.
Collection Preservation
The overall quality and preservation of the Map Collection is the responsibility of the assigned map librarian. The library will endeavor to purchase the necessary tools and materials to stabilize any deterioration and to insure the existence of the collection into the foreseeable future
Existing maps of significant historic importance will be protected by placing in Mylar sleeves.
Collection Retention
Evaluation of the Pierce Library map collection will occur on a routine and on going basis. The library will retain materials that meet any of the following minimum requirements:
- The title is recommended and justified for retention by a faculty member
- The title is part of a series from a government agency
- The title supports the curriculum at EOU
- Important thematic maps of historical importance
Criteria used when evaluating materials for withdrawal include:
Poor content; A subject no longer part of the curriculum; Obsolete information; Superseded editions; Inappropriate level; Duplicate copies except as previously noted; Poor physical condition; Age in some subjects is important, where currency is a factor. Mistake in initial selection: variant printings; vanity press; low quality materials; specialized materials of no interest or usage, Unreliable material.
Maps withdrawn from the collection will be transferred to surplus property for disposition. Maps collected through the FDLP program will be withdrawn in accordance with depository regulations as stated in the Instructions to Depository Libraries and guidelines established by the regional depository libraries in Oregon.
