GIS Research & Map Collection 2009 Year in Review

2009: GIS Research & Map Collection Year in Review

Students from a variety of classes visited the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) to use the maps, atlases, GIS software, and other resources in 2009. The GRMC also provided customized instructional sessions to students in a variety of disciplines. The list of classes is extremely diverse: geography, urban planning, historic preservation, landscape architecture, architecture, English, anthropology, journalism, creative writing, wellness, science, library education, women’s studies, and social studies methods.

The GRMC also hosted students working on projects from elementary education, natural resources and environmental management, economics, Japanese language, geology, history, art, communications, political science, music, global studies, construction management, biology, physics and astronomy, sociology, Spanish, and archaeology.

The GIS Specialist in the GRMC created custom maps and assisted with GIS for students in foundations of education, landscape architecture, urban planning, historic preservation, elementary education, and many other areas of study.

Staff of the GRMC and the Educational Resources Collections created games and activities for the Ball State University Cardinal Kids Camp in June. The GRMC also provided research materials for culture projects to visiting students from local high schools.

Maps and posters were created by the GRMC in coordination with the Rinker Center for International Programs’ Culture Exchange program and the International Festival in November. The GRMC also provided maps to be used as a backdrop for the Ball State University Freshman Connections Common Reader Africa Symposium in October.

Keeping track: 2,331 items were circulated from the GRMC during 2009; 2,245 persons researched 21,340 different maps and other items in the GRMC and Atlas Collection; GIS software was used 406 times; 1,417 people used the plotter for printing; 18 maps were circulated through Interlibrary Loan; and 49 classes with 1,022 participants were given instructional sessions.

Contact the GRMC for information about any of these services and resources Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00.