Monday, August 24, 2009

Ball State University Designated Smoking Areas Map

Ball State University Designated Smoking Areas Map Changes

One of the designated smoking areas on the Ball State University campus has changed for the new academic year. The smoking location behind Pruis Hall near the Emens Parking Garage is now a nonsmoking area. Smoking will now be permitted beside the north entrance to the Arts and Communications Building on the other side of Pruis Hall.

The new map showing all designated smoking areas on campus is available online at http://www.bsu.edu/map/media/pdf/smokingmap.pdf.

Maps of Martha's Vineyard Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Martha’s Vineyard

The Obama family is spending its summer vacation in Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts. Other travelers interested in visiting the island can find maps in the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library.

Rand McNally published a map of Cape Cod and its vicinity that includes a map of the island of Martha’s Vineyard. J. Donovan’s detailed road map of Martha’s Vineyard and Dukes County, Massachusetts, includes blow-up maps of Edgartown, Tisbury, and Oak Bluffs. Miller’s Map of Martha’s Vineyard includes detailed maps of Chapaquidick, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, Vineyard Haven, and West Tisbury.

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Handiguide Road Map is a water-resistant map with a guide to the area’s finest beaches, historical sites, and recreational activities. The GRMC also includes a bird’s-eye view map of Edgartown as it appeared in 1886.

Several nautical charts at varying scales in the GRMC include the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Also, travelers can check out an atlas with illustrations and maps of the area, Universal Atlas of Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases from the Atlas Collection circulate for four weeks or longer.

The GRMC is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Ball State University Libraries Dillinger Map Available for Circulation

Ball State University Libraries’ Public Enemies: Robberies of the John Dillinger Gang Map Available for Circulation

A laminated copy of Ball State University Libraries’ “Dillinger map” is now available for circulation and via interlibrary loan. The map can be accessed in the University Libraries’ CardCat catalog. The title of the map is Public Enemies: Robberies of the John Dillinger Gang. The Library of Congress call number is G4041.E625. 1934.P83. (Maps from the GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library circulate for two weeks or longer).

The GRMC created the map to commemorate the release of the movie “Public Enemies” and the 75th anniversary of Dillinger’s death. The map was created based on information from a book by Bryan Burrough—Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34—and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Historic Famous Cases Web page. The map pinpoints locations of reported robberies of John Dillinger and his gang and follows Dillinger’s activities through the time of his killing in Chicago in 1934.

A copy of the map is also available in PDF-format from the Ball State University Libraries Cardinal Scholar repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/595/.

For more information, please contact the GRMC weekdays at 765/285-1097.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009


World Atlas of Natural Hazards Available from Ball State University Libraries

Hurricane Bill is looming in the Atlantic Ocean with a projected path toward Bermuda. The satellite image shown above is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, showing Hurricane Bill as it strengthened to a powerful Category Four storm on Wednesday.

Researchers and students of climate, weather conditions, and natural hazards will find a valuable resource about these phenomena in the GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library—the World Atlas of Natural Hazards. This atlas was published in 2004 and provides comprehensive information about the full range of natural hazards, including volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, freeze hazards, and windstorms, including hurricanes. The atlas covers historical natural disasters, their impacts, hazard avoidance, mitigation, and management, and future prospects related to climate change. The atlas incorporates colorful maps, satellite images, photographs, and graphs and charts.

The World Atlas of Natural Hazards is a reference item and can be used for research in the GRMC. Images and maps from the atlas can be scanned for users in the GRMC. (A map from the atlas above shows the typical tracks of hurricanes with red arrows. The green areas are the sources of tropical cyclones).

The GRMC also includes maps showing storms from various years in history, maps of Bermuda and other islands, and nautical charts of coastal areas around the world. All maps and charts circulate from the GRMC for two weeks or longer.

The GRMC is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. from Monday through Friday. Contact the staff at 765/285-1097.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Woodstock Music Festival 40th Anniversary Map at Ball State University Libraries

Peace, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Maps: Woodstock Music Festival 40th Anniversary Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library is featuring a map created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival in a special exhibit. The map uses an aerial photograph from Google Earth marking the location of the field next to Max Yasgur’s farm near Bethel, New York, which was the site of the Woodstock Music Festival on August 15-18, 1969. A poster advertising the concert as “an Aquarian exposition in White Lake, New York—three days of peace and music” is shown along with photographs from Life magazine. The map will be exhibited through the end of August in the windows of the GRMC.

Contact the GIS Research and Map Collection at 765/285-1097 for information about creating custom GIS maps for research or presentations.

Maps of Kabul Afghanistan from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Kabul, Afghanistan

This GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes a number of cartographic resources for research and learning on Afghanistan. Several maps of the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, are part of the collection.

A pictorial map of Kabul published in 2005 (shown above--click to view larger image) details the prominent buildings of the city, including the numerous embassies, government buildings, the public library, National Archives, Ghazi Stadium, and Independence Column. The map shows Shari Kuhna (the Old City) with its shops, markets, and bazaars.

A map of Kabul published in 2001 by Nelles Maps also shows the important landmarks of the city, including Kabul University. The legend of the map is printed in English, German, and French.

The Central Intelligence Agency published an azimuthal equidistant projection map centered on Kabul. The GRMC also includes two other maps of the capital published by the CIA. A 1970 Sahab map of Kabul is printed in Persian and English.

The Historical Atlas of Afghanistan in the Atlas Collection may also provide valuable information and maps for researchers. This atlas chronicles the history of Afghanistan from time of the Aryan invasion in 1500 B.C. to the rise of the Taliban.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer. For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.