The Map Library’s Emerging Role in the Dissemination of Cartographic Information on the Internet

The Internet is allowing a range of cartographic products from images of map documents to numerical databases of cartographic content to be transmitted to a global user community. This technological innovation is forcing map libraries to rethink the manner in which to provide their services since libraries have traditionally had the responsibility for the storage of, and access to, information by society. The functions of a map library that allow a patron to search the holdings, go to the storage location, browse the document, and ultimately copy it in-house or check out the document can now be provided online. This paper describes the efforts and problems of collection development, assessment of user community needs and access policies associated with an internet-based map library