Maps of Chile' Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Chile’

The Ball State University Libraries’ provides resources about places in the news. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library contains a large collection of maps and other cartographic materials of Chile’ and other areas of South America. And the Atlas Collection in Bracken Library also provides resources about the geography of Chile’.

The Atlas Collection includes an atlas published by Lonely Planet that details travel information for Chile’ and Easter Island. Guia Caminera de Chile, Atlas Geografico de Chile, Atlas Regionalizado de Chile, and Atlas de la Republica de Chile are atlases about Chile’ published in Spanish. Colonial Hispanic Cartography of Chile’ is an atlas published in 1952 that includes reproductions of early maps of Chile’ originally published in 1924.

The GRMC includes hundreds of maps of Chile’ and South America. A set of topographic maps depict 16 different cities in Chile’. The GRMC also includes tourist maps of Chile’ and Santiago, maps of Patagonia, the Chile’-Peru border region, and Tierra del Fuego. Nelles Maps produced a map of Chile’ available from the GRMC that includes detailed maps of Santiago, Easter Island, Peninsula Valdes, Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, La Serena, and Punta Arenas. The map of Santiago shown above was published in 1949. There are also maps of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. The GRMC also includes nautical charts published by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency that detail the areas along the Chilean coast. Che's Route: Ernesto Guevara's Trip Across South America is another map available from the GRMC that includes Chile'.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

September 11 Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

September 11 Map of Flight 93 National Memorial Available from Ball State University Libraries

Almost immediately after the crash, visitors began arriving in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to see the place where Flight 93 ended on the morning of September 11, 2001. A temporary memorial was created on a hilltop overlooking the crash site, and more than 150,000 visitors come to the spot each year.

In 2002 the Flight 93 National Memorial was included as a unit of the National Park Service. Family members, area residents, subject experts, and the National Park Service have worked with a Federal Advisory Commission to make recommendations on the design, boundaries, and management of a permanent National Memorial. An international competition resulted in the selection of a design for a memorial to be built at the Flight 93 crash site.

The map above shows the location of the temporary memorial. The Flight 93 National Memorial map was created by the National Park Services and is available in the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library. This map includes information about the crash and details of the temporary and permanent memorials.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. To learn more about the development of the Flight 93 National Memorial and plans for the permanent memorial, visit www.nps.gov/flni.

Women's Suffrage Maps from Ball State University Libraries Mark 19th Amendment Anniversary

Mapping Women’s Suffrage on the Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

Today, August 18, marks the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment prohibited the state and federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote because of gender, thus giving many women in the United States the right to vote.

Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment on August 18, 2010, and it was subsequently ratified by 12 other states. Mississippi ratified the 19th Amendment on March 22, 1984, after rejecting it in March of 1920.

According to The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World available in Ball State University Libraries’ Atlas Collection and GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC), “Native American women and men who lived on reservations were not granted citizenship, and thus the right to vote, until 1924, four years after other U.S. women.” Also women in Puerto Rico “did not win suffrage until 1929, when it was granted only to ‘literate women.’ They won universal suffrage in 1935.”

The map shown above (click to enlarge) depicts where women were allowed to vote in the United States prior to the 19th Amendment in 1919. The map is from the United States History Atlas available in the GRMC.

The chart shown is from The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World and displays the gap between men’s and women’s suffrage in selected countries around the world.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

For more information about maps, atlases, or other cartographic resources available from University Libraries, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 765-285-1097.

Back-to-School Resources from Ball State University Libraries' Cardinal Scholar

Back-to-School Resources from the GIS Research & Map Collection

Students and faculty returning to the Ball State University campus will be able to access important classroom resources created by the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) from the University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar institutional repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/. Cardinal Scholar allows users to access these invaluable resources from any location with Web availability.

Students and other researchers writing papers or preparing presentations may consider using maps from the GRMC or the Atlas Collection as visual aids to add interest and impact. These collections include maps and other cartographic images that visually depict numerous current issues. The new online guide, Using Maps and Atlases as Resources for Papers, Posters, and Presentations, details how cartographic images can enhance research. The guide can be accessed from Cardinal Scholar at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/1079/.

The State of the World Atlas Images (shown above) is a poster available from the GRMC in Cardinal Scholar that gives examples of the different maps, charts, photographs, and other images available from atlases in the Atlas Collection or the GRMC. This poster was created using a single atlas, The Penguin State of the World Atlas, which is available in the Atlas Collection and the GRMC and displays numerous topics like war, child labor, obesity, smoking, women’s issues, and the environment. This resource can be accessed from Cardinal Scholar at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/1083/.

Faculty, students, and other researchers using maps and atlases can also find information about citing these resources in Cardinal Scholar using the Guide to the Citation of Maps and Atlases. This guide describes the format for citing cartographic resources and provides examples from University Libraries. The guide can be accessed at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/1080/.

Teachers and student teachers headed back to the classroom can find numerous games, posters, lesson plans, map worksheets, cartographic tutorials, and other resources in Cardinal Scholar. These classroom resources were developed for K-12 teachers and can be browsed by choosing “GRMC” as the creator. Larger posters from Cardinal Scholar can be printed on the large-format plotters located in the GRMC on the second floor of Bracken Library. A new online guide for teachers, Guide to Finding Resources for the Classroom Using Ball State University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar, describes many of the available materials and can be accessed at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/1081/.

For more information about using these resources or finding other materials available from Cardinal Scholar, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday at 765-285-1097.

Academic Year Hours at Ball State University Libraries

New Hours in the GRMC

Summer in the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) officially ends on Monday, August 16. Starting on Monday, the GRMC will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

August Map Exhibits in Ball State University Libraries

Italy, India, Indonesia, and Indiana State Fair: August Map Displays at Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library is displaying two map exhibits in the windows for the month of August. The “Map of the Month” is actually three maps—a map of Italy, a map of India, and a map of Indonesia. These are the settings for the book and movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” which opens tomorrow.

A map of the Indiana State Fairgrounds created by the GRMC is also featured as a separate exhibit. This map will be displayed until the end of the Indiana State Fair on August 22.

For more information about the maps in the GRMC, please call 765-285-1097 Monday through Friday.

A Summertime of Fun: GIS at the Indiana State Fair

The Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC) will be hosting a tent in the new Boy Scout Camp Area at this year’s Indiana State Fair, which begins Friday, August 6 and runs through August 22. The IGIC booth will be open from 10 am to 10 pm each day.

The IGIC has developed a State Fairgrounds orienteering map that will lead visitors to various points of interest around the fair that include natural, human, and historical sites of interest. As much as possible, completion of the orienteering activity will meet one or more requirements of Scouting rank advancements. Although the focus will be on supporting the Boy Scouts, this activity will be available to all visitors to the Fair. Visitors can also access GIS and IndianaMap data on a touch-screen kiosk located inside the Normandy Barn.

For more information about these activities, please visit the IGIC Web page at www.igic.org. For more information about the Indiana State Fair, visit www.indianastatefair.com.

GIS from iTunes

GIS Software Available from iTunes

ESRI has made its GIS software, ArcGIS, available as a free download from the iTunes app store for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The app provides access to ArcGIS Online, and allows users to navigate map galleries, access GIS data, display and zoom to a current location, and retrieve detailed map metadata.

Users can perform a keyword search and get access to relevant information. The search finds places, companies, and points of interest. The “Find Maps” button also allows users to view maps available online and add their own mapping service. Map tools allow users to find an address and coordinates of a location and measure area and distance. Topographic maps and Bing maps and aerial imagery can also be accessed. GIS information sharing with other iPhone users is encouraged.

For more information, please visit the ESRI Web page or ArcNews Online: http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/summer10articles/arcgis-for-iphone.html

New Cartographic Materials in Ball State University Libraries

What’s New in the GIS Research & Map Collection?

The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) is constantly updating its collection of maps, atlases, computer software, and other cartographic resources. New materials are being added nearly every week this summer.

The GRMC has a special section of maps that are available for use in classroom displays or for speeches and other types of presentations. Staff of the GRMC have collected large maps of nearly every country in the world and encapsulated them in plastic so that they can be easily mounted to any surface. New display maps are now available of Panama, Switzerland, Mongolia, Korea, Kenya, South Africa, New Zealand, and the countries of Oceania.

The GRMC has also recently acquired a reconnaissance aerial photograph of Omaha Beach. This map shows the actual D-Day invasion from 1944.

The GRMC also has added new reference books to the collection: Children Map the World: Selections from the Barbara Petchenik Children’s Map Competition is a book featuring maps drawn by children ranging in age from 4 to 15 and representing 37 countries. This map competition is sponsored by the International Cartographic Association as a memorial to Barbara Petchenik, a cartographer who studied how children comprehend maps. The maps (shown above) represented are truly works of art, and the book presents an interesting study in cartography.

Another new interesting book featuring a different type of cartography is Off the Map: The Most Amazing Sights on Earth as Seen by Satellite. This book features images from the Google Earth satellite images. The book showcases manmade buildings, crop and sand dune formations, high-security areas, and other interesting sights from around the world.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Books located in the GRMC are reference materials but may be used in the classroom and for other presentations.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097 or visit Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Ball State University Storm Chasers Update

Ball State University Storm Chasers Hit the Road

Reprinted from the BSU Daily News, Kelly Dickey

After their first day chase across Kansas and finding a safe spot on a dirt road, David Call’s geography class found what they hoped to find throughout the summer: a tornado. Call, an associate professor of geography at Ball State University, led his class of storm chasers to the Colorado-Kansas state line to witness a tornado develop on their first day in the field on Tuesday, May 25. “The chances of seeing a tornado on the first day out on the field is less than 10 percent,” Call said. “The rule of thumb is a good chaser in the Great Plains will probably see about one tornado out of every 10 chase days,” he said. “Some days are better in terms of prospect tornados.”

Call said the storm leading up to the tornado was better than most of the storms last year’s group experienced. “Last year the weather pattern was very poor for storms,” he said. “This year we feel more confident and we have a decent shot at seeing another tornado.”

Call and geography professor Reuben Allen are leading a group of 10 Ball State University students to the Great Plains for a trip in search of severe weather. This group of students and faculty is part of the Geography 490 Field Observation of Severe Local Storms class. Unlike with the Ball State storm chasing team, this class gives students the opportunity to earn six credit hours while studying storms up close.

This is the third year Call has led a group of students to study storms. In the last two years, the groups have driven to South Dakota, Texas, Colorado and Missouri, with routes changing according to where they will find severe weather. The trip usually covers about 8,000 miles. The course starts with one week of training in which students learn the basics of how storms are formed; they study maps and atlases and learn how to use weather instruments. The day they depart, they make sure they have everything they need—laptops, maps, walkie talkies, a GPS, weather instruments and first aid kits.

Junior John Rarick said it was an exciting opportunity that he wouldn’t have been able to experience in the classroom. “In the classroom you have to identify parts of a storm structure, but that’s just a picture in a textbook,” he said. “No picture can compare. It was an amazing experience to see the whole thing as it evolved.”

Call said that the group picked a storm they thought would most likely produce a tornado. After 150 miles of traveling around Kansas, they saw the storm drop a tornado. “I’m proud of how the students worked together,” he said. “I help with things, but they did a lot of the work with the forecasting and planning. They did the things we needed to cover the distance and see the tornado.”

According to Call, some of the final decisions come down to luck, but a lot of it has to deal with how well the students work together. Rarick said it’s impossible to predict if they’ll see more tornados based on their one sighting. “We pretty much have no idea what will happen weeks from now,” he said. “It comes down to the people involved, not just the climate model at the time.”

Rarick believes the chase has been interesting, and he’s excited to see as many types of weather conditions as possible. “It’s definitely been exciting,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in severe weather. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

The storm chasing group will remain on the road for about another week to ten days.

FIFA World Cup Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

The World of Soccer: FIFA World Cup Map Exhibit at Ball State University

Opening festivities are beginning in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup soccer/football championship. The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library has created a special exhibit commemorating the competition.

Visitors can view the National Geographic Soccer Unites the World map, which features a map detailing World Cup participant nations, players, a historical timeline and statistics about the sport. The verso of this map is also displayed, showing the rules of the game.

The GRMC created a special map for the 2010 World Cup. This map identifies the 32 qualifying nations and marks the previous winning teams. The map displays photographs of players and fans from past competitions, including Pele’ of Brazil and Bobby Moore of England.

The map will be exhibited in the windows of the GRMC on the second floor of Bracken Library through the duration of the World Cup, ending on July 11.

For more information about special maps from the GRMC, please contact the staff at 765/285-1097.

Maps of Gaza Strip Available from Ball State University Libraries GIS Research & Map Collection

Maps in the News: The Gaza Strip, Korea, South Africa

The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses 140,000 maps that can be used for research and learning. Many of the maps can be used to interpret current events. For example, the GRMC includes a variety of maps of the Gaza Strip.

The current “Maps in the News” exhibit in the windows of the GRMC features an aerial photograph of the Gaza Strip from 2005. This view of the area identifies Israeli-developed areas, the Oslo-defined settlement zones and security perimeter, the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees camps, Palestinian-populated areas, border crossings, and roads.

The GRMC also includes maps of the Gaza Strip produced by the Central Intelligence Agency and nautical charts of the Mediterranean area. Maps of Israeli settlements in Gaza available from the GRMC date back to 1980.

The Atlas Collection, also located on the east side of the second floor of Bracken Library, includes an atlas called The Gaza Strip and West Bank: A Map Folio. This atlas features maps showing natural resources, economic activity and land use, selected water resources, Israeli-controlled land, transportation routes (shown) and other maps.

New materials are also available for places in the news: The GRMC has acquired a 2009 map of South Africa, host country of the World Cup Soccer. Two Koreas is a map published in 2007 by the National Geographic Society which features an ancillary map showing military and nuclear capacity and a fact box graphic showing military forces and spending.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

For more information about these maps, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. during the summer.

Summer Hours at the BSU GIS Research & Map Collection

Summer Academic Hours in the Ball State University GIS Research & Map Collection

The GIS Research & Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library will be open during the summer Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Cross-Country Bike Tour Uses BSU Maps

Cycling Infrastructure: Ball State University Students Ride Across America

Two landscape architecture students from Ball State University completed a study of the bicycling infrastructure of the United States by traveling around the country themselves via bicycle. David Bader and Patrick Beyer are fourth-year students and avid bicyclists, so the two decided to conquer a unique learning experience where they would study the infrastructure of different cities around the United States firsthand from their own bicycles.

Prior to the trip, Bader and Beyer visited the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library to review maps depicting the topography of the areas in which they would be riding their bikes. The students used several topographic maps to help plan their journey. The GRMC also has a collection of biking tour maps that also proved to be useful. The students determined a route in which they could bicycle for part of the way and take hybrid trains to connect them to the next city: http://cyclinginfrastructure.com/route.html.

Beyer departed from Indianapolis on February 21, and Bader left via train from Cleveland. Beyer explored Vancouver during the Olympics and then met up for the rest of the trip with Bader in Seattle, Washington. The students biked from Seattle to Portland, Oregon. By train they reached San Francisco, and travelled by bike to Monterey and Los Angeles, California. By March the two had reached San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, Texas. Then the next stops were New Orleans, Louisiana, and Baltimore, Maryland. They biked from Baltimore to New York City and took the train back to Chicago.

The students took time in each of the cities they studied to really analyze the logistics and challenges of riding a bike in that particular city. “Each city has its own unique challenges and many offer examples of remedial landscapes.” The Cycling Infrastructure Blog at http://cyclinginfrastructure.com/index.html produced by the students “documents precedent landscapes, natural environment, and human culture experienced along the route.”

Contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097 for more information about using maps to coordinate tours and vacation planning.

Historic Maps of Indiana Available from Ball State University Libraries

Energy of the Past: Historic Maps of Natural Resources Available from Ball State University Libraries

A new collection of maps has been added to the Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository. Historic geological maps of Indiana dating back to the late 19th century are now available in digital format for researchers interested in the history and location of the production of fuel in Indiana. These maps will be a valuable resource for studying the beginning of the gas boom in Indiana, which led to the establishment and growth of many cities including Muncie, Gas City, and Gaston.

The Indiana Natural Resources Maps digital collection depict natural gas, coal, and petroleum deposits as well as the locations of stone quarries, pipelines, and gas wells from the 1880’s to the early 1900’s. Several regional maps of western counties of Indiana mark the location of coal mining operations.

The natural gas geological maps mark the beginning of active drilling and production of natural gas in the Trenton Gas Field in northeast Indiana and were produced by the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources. These maps were produced to accompany the Annual Report of the State Supervisor of Natural Gas, which are available in the General Collection of University Libraries.

The Digital Media Repository is located at http://libx.bsu.edu/.

The original maps are available in the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library. The GRMC is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

For more information about the maps, contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

Maps in the News: Prague and Kyrgyzstan

Maps in the News: Prague and Kyrgyzstan

The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) includes a number of maps and atlases of hundreds of cities and countries that are available for research and learning. The GRMC houses over 145,000 maps that are available for circulation.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, hosted the signing of a nuclear disarmament treaty between Russia and the United States this morning. The GRMC has numerous street and tourist maps of Prague. The Prague Pictorial Map and City Guide includes images of the architecture of the city, including the Charles Bridge, the St. Wenceslas Statue, and the Loreto. The Lonely Planet map of Prague (shown) includes a detailed map of the city and a map of the greater metropolitan area. Praha Plan Mesta and Praha Plan for Orientation are atlases of the city available from the Atlas Collection.

The GRMC also includes many maps of another location in the news today—Kyrgyzstan. Maps include current maps of the country produced by the Central Intelligence Agency. Other maps feature Kyrgyzstan with its neighbors Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. A map of Central Asia includes an inset map of the capital city Bishkek. The Atlas of Russia and the Independent Republics also features maps and information about Kyrgyzstan (shown above).

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

IGIC Dinner Meeting Features Ball State University GIS

Indiana Regional Dinner Meeting Features Ball State University GIS Initiatives

The Indiana Geographic Information Council is hosting the Spring Regional Geo-Dinner Meeting on Tuesday, April 13 from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie. The dinner meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more about Indiana GIS.

The theme of the meeting is “It’s a Jungle Out There” and allows an opportunity to network and discuss the latest GIS events in a casual atmosphere. The evening will feature a cash bar for the first hour followed by dinner and a presentation by Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist at Ball State University Libraries, and Jim Sparks, State Geographic Information Officer.

Jim Sparks will talk about the ongoing statewide County Data Sharing Initiative and the new statewide Broadband Mapping efforts his office is helping to develop for Indiana for the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Angela Gibson and professors from Ball State University will discuss the university’s geospatial initiatives.

Cost of the dinner meeting is $30. Register with the Indiana Geographic Information Council at http://www.igic.org/products/?view=sub_product&sid=352&cid=25&cid2=25

Ball State Campus Map Application Available from iTunes Store

Ball State University Campus Map: There's an App for That

From the Ball State University Communications Center:

If you're headed to class and need to stop at an ATM, get a cup of coffee, and figure out which bike rack is closest to the building... well, now there's an app for that! Available on the iTunes store is a free, interactive Ball State University Campus Map.

The application was developed, designed, and researched entirely by Ball State students from the Digital Corps. A true multi-disciplinary collaboration made the application possible and has led to a near-perfect rating in the iTunes store. Students from computer science, telecommunications, journalism, art, advertising, and more were brought together through their work with the Digital Corps to create this unique application.

The Ball State Campus Map application is available now for free on the iTunes store.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ball-state-university-campus/id353148218?mt=8

Ball State University Storm Chasing Program at Ball Center

Storm Quest: Ball State University Storm Chase Team Program Presented at Ball Center


David Call, Assistant Professor from the Department of Geography at Ball State University, will present a new Docent Forum, “Storm Chasing” at the E.B. & Bertha C. Ball Center on Friday, April 23 at 10:00 A.M.

Dr. Call led the Ball State University Storm Chase Team for the last two summers through the middle of America researching thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other extreme weather conditions. The team travels thousands of miles from Indiana as far west as Wyoming and then down to Texas in an effort to track major storms.

Dr. Call teaches classes in physical geography, elementary meteorology, severe local storms, and broadcast meteorology. His research interests center around how society copes with hazardous weather events, especially ice and snow. Dr. Call developed special lessons for his physical geography classes using topographic maps from the GIS Research & Map Collection. Students are able to learn about the development of communities based on the topography of the land.

Dr. Call received his bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Penn State and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in geography from Syracuse University. He also worked as a broadcast meteorologist for several years prior to arriving at Ball State in 2007.

The program at the E.B. & Bertha Ball Center is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Please call 765/285-8975.

Women's History Month Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams Map: Women’s History Month Map Exhibit in Ball State University Libraries

Mapping A League of Their Own

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) has created a map depicting the teams that participated in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1954. Most commonly known from the Penny Marshall motion picture A League of Their Own in 1992, these teams represented the advent of women participating in professional sports.

The map, The Girls of Summer: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams, 1943-1954, is based on the book A Whole New Ballgame: The Story of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League by Sue Macy, which is available from the Educational Resources Collections in Ball State University Libraries. Images and programs from the book are featured on the map, including a photograph of the cast of A League of Their Own dressed as the Rockford Peaches.

Indiana is represented on the map by two teams—the Fort Wayne Daisies and the South Bend Blue Sox. Many of the photographs in the book were published courtesy of the Collection of the Northern Indiana Historical Society in South Bend.

The map is available in PDF-format from the Ball State University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar institutional repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/938/.

For more information about the map exhibit, please contact the staff of the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

Ball State University Libraries Expands GIS Services

Expanded GIS Services Available at the University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection

by Angie S. Gibson, GIS Specialist

Students, faculty, and staff visiting the University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library will find the space has been transformed. Manyimportant changes allow the facility to provide more access to GIS resources for the entire Ball State community, positioning the GRMC to meet campus needs for increased GIS-enabled research and instructional space.

The University Libraries has increased the amount of space devoted to the GIS research area, now nearly 1,200 square feet equipped with 28 high-end Lenovo ThinkCentre computers with dual 22-inch widescreen monitors. The units provide students and faculty with access to the type of software required for any GIS or mapping project, including Adobe Design Premium CS3, Autodesk AutoCAD 2009, ERDAS Imaging 9.3, ESRI ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1, ESRI ArcPad 8.0, Google Earth, Google SketchUp, Intergraph GeoMedia 6.1.6, and Rhino 4.0.

Two LG 55-inch widescreen LED monitors and an ELMO projector are connected to an instructor station, facilitating the use of the equipment for workshops and classes. GRMC staff plan to offer workshops and tutorials and to facilitate instructional sessions in the space. Ball State faculty and students who require GIS and other related geospatial software for instructional purposes can reserve the area. The space is also available for use by students and faculty for group and individual learning. A certified GIS staff member is available to answer questions and help users with their projects.

GIS-enabled computers are also available throughout Bracken Library since the software is deployed on more than 140 public workstations throughout the building. Visit the University Libraries’ Software Locator Web site to find these public access stations: www.bsu.edu/libraries/swsearch

The GRMC also provides users access to a broad collection of over 145,000 print maps, atlases, and travel guides. The GRMC provides members of the campus community with access to wide-format plotting and lamination services, both offered at a modest cost.

For more information about the GIS Research Area, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

New Map of Iran Available from Ball State University Libraries

New Profile Map of Iran in Ball State University Libraries

Yesterday the nation of Iran marked the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which transformed the country into an Islamic republic. The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library has just received a country profile map of Iran from the Central Intelligence Agency.

The map was created in 2009 and includes a location map and a comparative area map, which shows the country's size in relation to the United States. Ancillary maps include key petroleum sector facilities, regional physiography, Souther Caspian energy prospects, a map of the Strait of Hormuz, a population density map, and a map showing the ehtno-religious distribution in Iran (Click to enlarge above).

The map includes a list of major historical events in Iran since 1908. A section on the geographic and cultural profile of the country includes details about terrain, land use, climate, natural resources, economic factors, language, literacy, and time zone information.

Iran: Country Profile map may be circulated from the GRMC for two weeks or longer. The map is encapsulated in plastic for convenient display in a classroom or for a presentation.

For more information about maps available from the GRMC, please call 765/285-1097 Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern time.

Black History Month Map Exhibit in Ball State University Libraries

Mapping Black History Month: Special Maps Exhibit in Ball State University Libraries

The exhibit, The Geography of Black History, will be on display in the front windows of the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. (Click on the image to zoom).

The exhibit features images and maps from the Atlas of Firsts, Allyn Bacon Social Atlas of the United States, Atlas of African-American History and Politics, and The Atlas of African-American History from the Atlas Collection in Bracken Library. The exhibit details African-American contributions in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, explorers of the American West, the Underground Railroad, the civil rights movement, and professional baseball leagues, as well as other important historic events and figures such as Jesse Owens, Booker T. Washington, Augusta Savage, and Rosa Parks.

The exhibit is also available from the Ball State University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar institutional repository. This PDF-format poster is available for use in classrooms or other Black History Month events at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/824/.

For more information about these atlases or the exhibit, contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Ball State University Christy Woods Greenhouse Tours this Saturday

Ball State University Christy Woods Greenhouse Tours this Saturday

Take a break from the cold weather and visit the tropics on campus with this guided walk through the Ball State University greenhouses in Christy Woods. The Orchid Greenhouse contains the largest university-based orchid collection in North America. The Teaching Greenhouse contains different kinds of tropical plants from around the world, including cacti, carnivorous plants, ferns, bananas, and many others.

Tours are scheduled for Saturday, January 30 and Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 P.M. Tours will begin at the Orchid Greenhouse in Christy Woods. The tours are free and open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, contact John Taylor at 765/285-2641.

Visit the Field Station and Environmental Education Center online at http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CentersandInstitutes/FSEEC.aspx

New Maps of Haiti Available from Army Geospatial Center

More Maps of Haiti Online

News of updated Haiti maps from R. Lee Hadden, Map Librarian at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: The Army Geospatial Center in Virginia created a special emergency mapping project making maps of Haiti available online. The current geological, hydrological and transportation maps are available at http://www.agc.army.mil/Haiti/. The site also includes an image gallery from Digital Globe of the earthquake zone.

The U.S. Geological Survey Web site for information on the earthquake is http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/us2010rja6/.

GIS Research & Map Collection Holiday Hours

Holiday Hours at Ball State University Libraries GIS Research & Map Collection

The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library will be closed on Monday, January 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. Bracken Library, however, will be open on Monday from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M.

The GRMC will reopen at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 19.

Maps of Haiti Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps of Haiti and Port-au-Prince Available in Ball State University Libraries

News reports have been devastating following the earthquake in Haiti yesterday. The Ball State University Libraries GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) includes a variety of maps of Haiti and the Caribbean Islands and maps depicting world earthquake zones.

A reproduction map of the island of Hispaniola from 1722 was published by Historic Urban Plans and is available for circulation from the GRMC. This colorful map features relief shown pictorially on the island. A map dating back to 1956 in the GRMC, Hispaniola: Urban and Rural Population Map, presents the population of Haiti and the Dominican Republic from 1950 statistics. Mapa de la Isla de Santo Domingo y Haiti por el General Cashmiro n de Moya is a map of Haiti and the Dominican Republic dating back to 1905. This original map corresponds with U.S. control of Dominican customs during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.

The GRMC also includes a 2000 tourist map of Haiti and the Dominican Republic with inset maps of large cities, including Port-au-Prince. The map shown above of Port-au-Prince and Petion-Ville is a guide map published in 1978. The map was published by the Nader Art Gallery in Port-au-Prince, which features the art of many Haitians. The map marks points of interest like the U.S. embassy, cathedrals, museums, theaters, and hotels and shows the distance to the Nader Gallery show room. (Click on the map to enlarge).

Nautical charts included in the GRMC also depict the coastline of Haiti. A large collection of maps and atlases of the Caribbean Islands detail the larger area. Maps showing seismic activity in the region and around the world are also available from the GRMC, including a map of global seismic activity from 1970-1996. Earthquake digital data is also available in the GRMC in CD-ROM format.

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

Please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097 for more information about these or any other cartographic resources.

Historic County Atlases Available from Ball State University Libraries

Preserving the Past: Indiana Historic Atlases Available in Digital Format from Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC) provided copies of historic Indiana county atlases for the Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository. This new digital collection features 18 historic atlases with over 400 county, township, city and other maps dating from 1874-1921. The counties included in the collection are Benton, Carroll, Cass, Delaware, Elkhart, Franklin, Jay, La Porte, Montgomery, Ohio, Parke, Ripley, Rush, St. Joseph, Switzerland, and Vigo.

Students of historic preservation, history, and archaeology often use maps from the atlases in their research and class projects. The historic atlases of Indiana are a valuable resource for anyone interested in the growth of Indiana and individual counties and cities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Genealogists also find using this collection helpful in their search for relevant information about a historic place, and many of the historic atlases include biographies and illustrations of actual residents of the county, as well as illustrations of family farms, residences, and places of business. To access these complete records, click on the title page of the specific atlas and a complete listing of all pages will be provided.

The GRMC also has historic atlases of other Indiana counties in its collection, including Henry, Putnam, Steuben, Union, and Wayne. The Illustrated Atlas of the State of Indiana, 1876, is another reference item in the GRMC. This atlas includes county, township, and city maps from the entire state, as well as colorful illustrations and text.

The reference atlas collection in the GRMC also includes historic county, city, and state atlases from other areas of the country, including Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097 for more information about these historic resources. For questions or assistance using the Digital Media Repository, please contact the Archives and Special Collections at 765/285-5078.

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.

Haunted Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Eerie, Indiana: Map of Allegedly Haunted Locations in Indiana from the Ball State University Libraries

Former GIS Research and Map Collection student-assistant Casey Gentis created a special map for a spooky October 2006 map display in Ball State University Libraries. Gentis researched legends of haunted locations in Indiana and created a map of some of the sites. Former student-assistant Jenny Wyatt then re-created the map using Adobe Illustrator for a 2009 map display: Allegedly Haunted Indiana Map.

Gentis discovered, interestingly, that most Indiana college campuses are allegedly haunted. The map features stories about locations at Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, Valparaiso University, St. Joseph’s College, Huntington College, the University of St. Francis, Earlham College, Franklin College, Hanover College, and Ball State University. A prevalence of haunted libraries can also be viewed on the map.

Allegedly Haunted Indiana Map is currently exhibited on the front windows of the GRMC on the second floor of Bracken Library. The map is also available in PDF-format from the University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/. A map of haunted locations in the United States based on the Atlas of the Mysterious in North America is also available from Cardinal Scholar. (The maps can be found under the “Latest Additions” section or under the GRMC creator section).

For more information about these maps, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

Africa Symposium Held at Ball State University Features GRMC Maps

Africa Maps Exhibited at A Long Way Back: Ball State University Africa Symposium on October 20

The Ball State University Freshman Connections Common Reader program presented Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier for this year. Freshman Connections will present a symposium on Africa on Tuesday, October 20 in the Arts and Journalism Building, room 175, at 7:30 P.M.

A Long Way Back: Reflections on Conflicts in Africa will present seven speakers dealing with different African nations:

· Dr. Kyama Kabadaki, Department of Social Work: Uganda
· Fr. Nabil Hanna, St. George Orthodox Church, Indianapolis: Egypt
· Dr. Tendayi Kumbula, Department of Journalism: Zimbabwe
· Dr. Yeno Matuka, Department of English: Congo
· Mr. Momo Fambuleh, Ball State University: Liberia
· Dr. Herbert Stahlke, Department of English Emeritus: Nigeria
· Ms. Meggan Houlihan, University Libraries: Nigeria

The GIS Research and Map Collection will provide a map exhibit for the symposium, providing over fifty new and historic maps of Africa and the changing African nations over time. Images from atlases will also be featured in the exhibit. (The images shown above are from the Africa Adventure Atlas in the Atlas Collection).

Meggan Houlihan, Information Services Librarian for University Libraries, will present the story of Margery Perham during the Nigerian Civil War. Margery Perham was an Oxford don, who made significant contributions to the fields of African history and colonial administration. Over the course of her career, Perham was approached several times by the Colonial Office to advise on problematic African affairs. Nearing retirement at its outset, the Nigerian Civil War gave Perham an opportunity to come back into the political spotlight and help British officials and the public understand the underlying problems of the War. This discussion will review how one must look at the actions of officials and determine whether Margery Perham influenced them, or if they simply took advice from her when she was supporting their interests.

The symposium will be moderated by Dr. Paul Ranieri, Department of English, and was organized by Dr. Martha Payne, Department of English. The program is free and open to the public.

Tech4U Event at Ball State University Libraries Spotlights GIS

Ball State University Faculty Members to Talk GIS at the October 15 Tech4U Event in Bracken Library

By: Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist, GIS Research and Map Collection

Geographic Information Systems, better known as GIS, will be in the spotlight at the Tech4U event at Ball State University Libraries on October 15. The event will showcase three Ball State University faculty members who are using GIS for special projects in their individual areas of interest and incorporating GIS science into their classroom curriculum. Information on how to obtain GIS software, data, and training through the University Libraries will also be presented. The event lasts from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in the Helen B. and Martin D. Schwartz Special Collections and Digital Complex in Bracken Library, with the keynote presentation starting at 1:00 P.M.

The individual topics and speakers included in the keynote presentation include:

A Brief Introduction to GIS Resources at Ball State University: Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist for the University Libraries: Access to GIS software, data, and learning resources available to faculty staff and students at Ball State University will be presented.

GIS in the Classroom and Beyond: Petra Zimmermann, Associate Professor of Geography: Zimmermann will discuss her experiences teaching GIS to students from disciplines ranging from biology to journalism, as well as sharing some examples of her students’ work. Additionally, Zimmermann will explain her current social media project, which will entail a GIS component. The social media project is an Emerging Media Innovation Grant project. Students are currently gathering meteorological data and transmitting it via Twitter, which results in a digital archive of data. Later this semester, results will be compared with existing meteorological records. Results will be mapped and analyzed using ArcGIS software.

Web GIS for Economic Development: David Schoen, Professor of Urban Planning: Web-based GIS is a cost-effective strategy to deliver data and data analysis to local and state governments. This project involves the use of input/output analysis to make better decisions about development strategies at the county level. Developed by Dr. Nalitra Thaiprasert and Prof. David Schoen, this Web-based program allows users to obtain economic sector linkage data in order to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the local economy.

GIS Projects and Curriculum in Landscape Architecture: Chris Baas, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture: This presentation will share observations of teaching GIS to landscape architecture students in the studio setting. It will include a discussion of the student’s mental shift from the design to the planning process, GIS and the accreditation of the Department of Landscape Architecture, and the University’s GIS assets and technical support. Several examples of student work will be shown.

Tech4U is open to the entire Ball State University community, and anyone interested in GIS is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist, at ASGibson2@bsu.edu.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Maps in Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Mapping World Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library is a valuable resource for researchers interested in maps related to breast cancer and other health issues.

The Penguin State of the World Atlas (published in 2008) in the Atlas Collection features a world map showing the most common cancers suffered by men and women in each country (shown above). Not surprisingly, breast cancer was the most common cancer for women in many parts of the world. The atlas also includes a chart showing the differences in new cancer cases in industrialized countries. “In 2002, there were 10.9 million new cancer cases in the world, and 6.7 million deaths,” according to Dan Smith, author of this atlas. A graphic in the atlas shows the number of cases for each cancer in men and women. The call number for this atlas is G1021.E2S65 2008.

The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World (published in 2009) features a map showing the incidence per 100,000 from 2002-2007. A chart identifies the numbers of incidences and deaths from breast cancer per 100,000 women in the United States from 200-2004. Another chart shows the incidence of breast cancer in industrialized countries around the world. The call number for this atlas is G1046.E1S4 2009.

The Atlas Collection also includes The State of Health Atlas: Mapping the Challenges and Causes of Disease (published in 2008) and The State of Health Atlas (published in 1993). Atlas of Disease Distributions: Analytic Approaches to Epidemiological Data (published in 1988) and Atlas of AIDS (published in 1992) are also available from the Atlas Collection for research on health-related topics. The Science-Health Science Library in the Cooper Nursing Building also houses a collection of atlases related to disease and healthcare.

Atlases from the Atlas Collection circulate for 28 days or longer. Maps and images from the atlases may also be scanned by the staff of the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library.

For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

Wizard of Oz Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Not in Kansas: Wizard of Oz Maps at Ball State University Libraries

The classic movie The Wizard of Oz marks its 70th anniversary this year. High-definition DVD’s and Blu-Rays are being released to commemorate the film’s milestone.

Created by L. Frank Baum in 1900, the first Oz story chronicled the adventures of Dorothy. Subsequent stories filled in the geography of Oz and nearby lands. The Atlas of Fantasy available from the Atlas Collection of Bracken Library includes maps of Oz and its Environs and The Magical Countries Surrounding Oz (shown). The maps of Oz included in the atlas were produced by James E. Haff and Dick Martin.

The Atlas of Fantasy is an atlas made up completely of maps of fictional places. Some of the other locations mapped in the atlas are Treasure Island, the world of Sherlock Holmes, the voyages of Gulliver, Mongo from Flash Gordon, and Pilgrim’s Progress.

The GIS Research and Map Collection also includes maps of other fictional places and maps related to great works of literature. For a complete list of maps and other resources in University Libraries, please review the GRMC Web page subject guide for English and literature at http://www.bsu.edu/library/media/pdf/Literatureguide.pdf.

For more information about the Atlas of Fantasy or any other cartographic resources, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 at 765/285-1097.

Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Focus of the World: Maps of Chicago Available from Ball State University Libraries

The International Olympic Committee will decide the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics today. The four remaining candidates are Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Chicago. The GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library has a huge collection of city maps from around the world. The Collection includes street maps, topographic maps, tourist guides, and architecture plans. The set of maps of Chicago numbers in the hundreds and offers researchers and travelers a variety of resources.

Historic maps of Chicago include bird’s-eye view maps that were popular after the Civil War. The collection includes these illustrated maps from 1868, 1893, 1898, and 1916, and includes the central business district and a view of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. One of the oldest maps in the collection of the city dates from 1855, and the Blanchard’s Guide Map of Chicago in the GRMC dates from 1873. Royal Blue Line Map and Guide to Chicago was published in1924. East and West Streets of Chicago map was published in 1907. Road maps of the state of Illinois include maps of Chicago and date back to the 1930’s.

Tourists traveling to Chicago will find a number of maps and guides in the GRMC. The iMap of Chicago includes a 12-page guide with a compass. Chicago Unfolds is a pop-up map and guide, and The World on the Lake is also a tourist guide map. Place Map of Chicago is an easy-to-read map of the city. The GRMC also includes maps of the Ohare Airport area and a map featuring the Sears Tower (shown).

The GRMC has a large collection of aeronautical charts of the area and nautical charts of the city and the south shore of Lake Michigan. A set of topographic maps of Chicago and a 19-map set of geologic maps of the area are also available for researchers. The GRMC also has all of the topographic quadrangle maps for the Chicago area dating back to 1889. Geography students use these topographic maps to track the growth of the city over the last century. Chicago at the Millennium is another map showing the growth of the city using satellite images, historic topography, and bird’s-eye views.

The collection of Chicago maps also includes transit maps, zip code maps, maps of Cook County and the suburbs, the downtown area, and maps focusing on the Loop. The 2001 Chicago Neighborhoods map identifies the traditional neighborhoods of the city. There are also maps of the University of Chicago in the GRMC.

The Atlas Collection includes several street atlases of Chicago. A folio of Chicago maps and plat maps dating to 1876 are also available in the Atlas Collection. Chicagoland Atlas is available as a reference item from the GRMC.

Maps circulate for two weeks or longer from the GRMC. Atlases can be borrowed for 28 days or longer.

For more information about these maps or maps of Tokyo, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, or any other world city, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097.

Maps of Pittsburgh in Ball State University Libraries

Places in the News: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

President Barack Obama and other world leaders are attending the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh today. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses a large collection of maps and other cartographic resources on the city of Pittsburgh.

Street maps of Pittsburgh in the GRMC cover the metropolitan area, the central part of the city, and downtown. Baldwin, Bellevue, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Oakwood, and other adjoining communities are also featured on street maps of Pittsburgh. The downtown area is covered on several maps in the GRMC, including Downtown Pittsburgh: An Axonometric View of the Three Rivers City. Oblique aerial photography of the Golden Triangle and the adjacent district is also included in the Collection.

Tourist maps of the city of Pittsburgh are available in the ready-reference area of the GRMC. The Gousha recreation and shopping guide map features a directory of activities available in the city. Pittsburgh Map and Visitors’ Guide and Pittsburgh Walking Map and Guide are also excellent maps for tourists visiting the area.

The GRMC also includes maps useful for researchers, including a map showing land use and land cover in the greater Pittsburgh region. Navigation charts of the Monongahela River, the Allegheny River, and the Ohio River are also available.

Researchers studying the history of the city will find a map of Pittsburgh from 1902 in the GRMC. The map is from the Library of Congress’ American Memory Collection of Panoramic Maps, 1847-1929. View of Pittsburgh and Allegheny from 1874 offers another aerial view of the historic city.

The Atlas Collection includes a Pittsburgh streetfinder guide. Urban Atlas: Tract Data for Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Pittsburgh is also available in the Atlas Collection.

Maps in the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for four weeks or longer.

For more information about any of these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765/285-1097 or visit Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

International Center Culture Exchange Program Begins September 16

The World during Lunch Hour: International Center Culture Exchange Program Begins September 16

The Ball State University Rinker Center for International Programs will again be hosting culture exchange programs beginning today, September 16. The weekly programs are held every Wednesday from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M in the Phyllis Yuhas Room of the Student Center (Room 102).

The culture exchanges feature a student or group of students presenting information about a country. Most of the programs are led by students native to that country, and every week a different country is highlighted. The majority of the exchanges provide an overview of the country and its culture with time set aside for a question and answer session. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library will again this year be providing maps and posters about the countries for the culture exchange program. Maps, photographs and other graphics from atlases, and travel posters from the GRMC are used as a backdrop for the culture exchanges and are often referenced during the question and answer sessions.

Program schedule for the fall culture exchanges:

September 16: Belarus, Alexander Falevich
September 23: Canada, Stephanie Hedge
September 30: Ukraine, Iryna Kushnir and Larysa Maksymenko
October 7: Nepal, Ambar Rana
October 14: Ecuador trip, Field Study students
October 21: Iceland, Gunnar Ingolfsson and Bjorg Hermannsdottir
October 28: Perceptions of the Supernatural, multicultural panel
November 4: Japan, Shuichiro Nishizawa
November 11: Armenia, Tatevik Avetisyam
November 18: Turkey, student panel
November 25: Thanksgiving break
December 2: Russia, Anastasia, Goryacheva
December 9: Azerbaijan, Farana Abdullayeva

Maps of Sierra Leone Available from Ball State University Libraries

A Long Way Gone: Maps of Sierra Leone at Ball State University Libraries

Ishmael Beah, author of this year’s Ball State University Freshman Connections book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, will speak tonight at 7:30 P.M. in Emens Auditorium. Beah was abducted into the civil war in Sierra Leone as a child soldier and was later rescued by UNICEF and rehabilitated.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has a varied collection of maps and atlases on the country of Sierra Leone. Atlas of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone in Maps: Graphic Perspectives of a Developing Country are available in the Atlas Collection just outside the GRMC. Cultural Atlas of Africa is available in the GRMC, and includes information and maps about Africa and its civilizations.

The GRMC also has a set of topographic maps of Freetown, 1:500,000-scale topographic maps of Sierra Leone, and an Army Map Service map of Freetown from 1942. Travel maps of Sierra Leone show districts and provinces, roads and railways, and ferry routes. The Central Intelligence Agency published maps of Sierra Leone available in the GRMC showing vegetation, population, economic activity, ethnic groups, and a map showing the country’s size in comparison to South Carolina. Updated maps of the country published by the CIA in 2006 are also available. The GRMC also includes a set of land suitability maps of Sierra Leone showing areas where citrus and coffee are grown.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Maps of Sierra Leone are not fully cataloged, so please visit the GRMC to see all of the available resources about the country.

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

Software Locator Available on Ball State University Libraries' Web Page

Finding GIS: Software Locator Available at University Libraries

Users can now find out what software is available on the public access computers throughout Bracken Library by using the new Software Locator. The Software Locator can be accessed from the Student Virtual Library page of University Libraries Web page at http://www.bsu.edu/svl/. Software Locator can be found on the right side of the page.

To search for software installed on the University Libraries’ computers, type the first characters of the software name in the text box. Software titles that contain the characters you enter will be displayed in a drop-down list. Simply click on the correct software title. Then click the box “Find Software” to see a list of how many and the location of computers that have the specific software installed. Searches can also be limited to Windows only or Macs only by selecting the option above the text box.

The computer availability feature can be accessed by clicking on “Map” in the search results. The computer availability map allows library users to see every available computer on any floor of Bracken Library.

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

GRMC Closed on Monday, September 7

GRMC Closed for Labor Day

The GIS Research and Map Collection in Bracken Library will be closed on Monday, September 7. The GRMC will reopen at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday.