Map and Spatial Data Acquisitions in the Electronic Age

SUMMARY

Acquiring cartographic information has historically been complicated and time-consuming, but the Internet has provided librarians with a more efficient way to acquire these materials. Not only can cartographic materials be searched and ordered electronically, speeding the actual acquisitions process, but digital data as well as rare materials, that may or may not be for sale, can also be viewed, printed, or downloaded for research use. While many materials may be downloaded directly by users, circumventing the library altogether, identifying Web sites with cartographic materials remains a task that can be frustrating to those who do not have experience doing so. This paper discusses the changes in the cartographic acquisitions process and includes selected Web addresses and searching suggestions.

Key Words:

• Library acquisitions
• maps
• atlases
• digital databases