Maps in the News from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: A Gallery of Maps

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) contains over 140,000 maps available for research and learning. The maps featured above are some that have been used this week due to various events in the news:

The first map of the United States depicts the annual incidence of tornadoes in the United States and is from the Atlas of Natural Hazards. (Click to enlarge the maps).  The latest topographic map of Joplin, Missouri, shows part of the area where a deadly tornado struck last weekend.

The blue map shows the city of Deauville, France, site of this week’s G8 Summit. This historic topographic map was published by the United States Army Map Service in 1944. The map was surveyed by the government of Great Britain during World War II using a military grid, and important streets and building are named—including casinos, hippodromes, cinemas, and a stadium.

The bright yellow map shows part of Irish Family Names Map: Arms and Mediaeval Locations published by Bartholomew Maps in 1984. This map includes a list of family names and illustrations of family shields. Moneygall, the home village of President Obama’s ancestors, is located in County “Offaly,” shown in the center of the map.

The map of Yemen shows the distribution of ethnic and religious groups and key tribal areas of the country. This is an inset map on a map of Yemen published by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2004.

A map of the Middle East from The Israel Historical Atlas depicts The Six Day War, which changed the borders of Israel in 1967.

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

New Travel Materials Available in Ball State University Libraries

New Travel Materials in the GIS Research and Map Collection


The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has added new travel materials just in time for the summer.

For local travel information the 2011 Indiana Travel Guide and Indiana Recreation Guide are available for circulation. Golfers can use the Indiana Golf and Travel Guide for information about courses around the state, and the 2011 Indiana Festival Guide details hundreds of festivals. A new map of the Knobstone Trail, Indiana’s longest footpath, is also now available in the GRMC as well as a new set of state park maps including the Dunes, Harmonie, and Patoka Lake.

Travelers to the nation’s capital can now find new maps of several attractions. The GRMC has new maps available of the Smithsonian complex, the National Cathedral, and parking maps for Reagan National Airport. A new map of nearby Monticello is also available for circulation.

Travelers to Paris and New York will also find new maps in the GRMC. Maps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre’ and the Estate of Versailles are now available for circulation.

Many of these maps were gifts from Jacqueline Luzar Nelson and Justine Payne, Ball State University alumnae.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. For more information, please visit the GRMC during summer hours from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Black Baseball in Indiana Documentary Premieres April 27 in Muncie

Ball State University Black Baseball in Indiana Documentary Premiere in Downtown Muncie

The Ball State University Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry is presenting a documentary about Negro League Baseball tomorrow, April 27, at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts in downtown Muncie. The doors open at 6:30 P.M., and the film showing begins at 7:00. The premiere is open to the public, and admission and concessions are free.

The film, Black Baseball in Indiana, was produced by fourteen Ball State students participating in a seminar exploring the league’s rich history in the state of Indiana. The students wrote a book of essays and produced this film featuring Indiana’s African American teams, players, and ballparks.

The group travelled thousands of miles interviewing leading Negro League historians, surviving players from the Indianapolis Clowns, and two of the team’s batboys. These interviews form the core of the film, supplemented with hundreds of historic photographs and vintage footage from archives around the nation.

Students from the class used road maps from the era from the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in their research of the league. The GRMC also created a map of the Negro League teams. The map is available for use from the Digital Media Repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/1413/ or may be checked out from the GRMC.

For more information about the documentary, please contact the Virginia Ball Center at 765-285-0117.

Maps for Earth Day Available from Ball State University Libraries

Earth Day: Environmental Resources Available from Ball State University Libraries

Today is Earth Day, and the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes many resources for researchers studying issues of the environment. The Map Collection includes flood plain maps for numerous areas, topographic maps for areas around the world, soil surveys and maps from counties around the country, Gap Analysis electronic resources for land cover, forest types, and other factors, maps of important farmlands in counties around the United States, natural gas and other energy maps, and national and state park and forest maps.

The Atlas Collection also includes a number of resources about the environment. The maps shown above are from the atlas One Planet, Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment, which was published by the United Nations Environment Program in 2005. Atlases in the collection cover a broad range of environmental issues, including endangered species, polluted waters, urban development, and soil degradation (shown above). Atlas of Contemporary America: Portrait of a Nation, Atlas of the Great Barrier Reef, Atlas of Wildlife, and Atlas of Global Development also include maps about the environment.

For a complete list of environmental topographic resources, researchers can access a study guide on the GRMC Web page. For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Map of Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Location Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Gulf of Mexico—A Geography of Offshore Oil Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion killed 11 men working on the rig and ultimately leaked five billion barrels (206 million gallons) of oil into the Gulf, making this oil spill 19 times larger than the Exxon Valdez spill.

The National Geographic Society published a map about the Gulf of Mexico and the oil spill last year. The map, Gulf of Mexico: A Geography of Offshore Oil, shows the locations of oil platforms, wells, and pipelines on one side with information about the economy of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The verso of the map is called The Gulf of Mexico: Layers of Life and depicts the rich habitats of “one of the most ecologically and economically productive bodies of water in the world.” Birds, animals, and marine life are shown in their coastal and marine ecosystems. The map shown above is a map of seafloor environments and marks the spread of oil along the coast up until July 25, 2010.

This map is available for research and learning from the Ball State University Libraries GIS Research and Map Collection. The map circulates for two weeks or longer.

Negro League Baseball Teams Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

Black Diamonds: Map of Negro League Baseball Teams Available from Ball State University Libraries

On this day in 1947 Jackie Robinson made his debut in Major League Baseball playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson’s start marked the long-awaited end of segregation, which forced players to participate in a separate Negro League Baseball.

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) created this map (above, click to enlarge) showing the locations and names of the Negro League Baseball teams. The map is based on the book The Complete Book of Baseball’s Negro Leagues: The Other Half of Baseball History by John Holway. Photographs on the map are from Playing America’s Game by Michael L. Cooper, which is available from the Educational Resources Collections in Bracken Library. The map was made in coordination with a special collaborative project with Geralyn Strecker, Assistant Professor in the Department of English. The base map is a 1931 road map, so researchers can imagine the routes travelled by the teams during that era of history. This map circulates for two weeks or longer and is available through interlibrary loan.

For more information, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday at 765-285-1097.

New Location for Soil Surveys in University Libraries

Soil Surveys Available from Ball State University Libraries

Students and other researchers using soil surveys in University Libraries will now find these maps in a more centralized location. All of the soil surveys are now located on the second floor of Bracken Library, either in the Atlas Collection for circulation or next door in the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) as reference materials.

All 92 Indiana counties’ soil surveys are available from the Atlas Collection on the east side of the second floor. These map books may be circulated for 28 days. Additional soil surveys of Indiana counties are available in the GRMC as reference materials. These soil surveys are maintained in the GRMC so that every county survey is always available for research. New sets of soil survey maps of Elkhart, Fountain, and Pulaski County were also recently transferred to the GRMC.

The Atlas Collection also includes soil surveys of St. Louis County, Missouri, Prince Georges County, Maryland, and Cook County, Illinois and the area near Chicago. A soil survey of Washington, D.C., is also available in the Atlas Collection. Researchers can also use soil surveys of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the islands of Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Atlas Collection.

The GRMC also has soil maps from numerous counties around the United States. A large collection of international soil maps is also available in the GRMC. These soil maps circulate for two weeks or longer for special projects.

For more information about these cartographic resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097. The GRMC is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 P.M.

Historical Nuclear Energy Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Mapping the History of Nuclear Energy

Researchers can use many cartographic resources to study the history of nuclear energy around the world. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has a collection of maps detailing the history of nuclear power plants in the United States and around the world. The Atlas Collection also includes many atlases that feature maps depicting various energy issues, including The State of the World Atlas and the Student Atlas of Politics. The Chernobyl nuclear accident is detailed in the atlas One Planet, Many People from the Atlas Collection (top image).

The GRMC receives maps as a federal depository, and the U.S. government previously produced maps showing the location of commercial nuclear power stations around the United States. The GRMC also includes U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps that depict the locations of nuclear power plants. The Forked River, New Jersey map shows the older Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, and the Middletown, Pennsylvania topographic map shows the four reactors at the Three Mile Island power plant (above). The GRMC also includes an aerial photograph of Three Mile Island (above).

CNN created a map so Americans can find the location of nuclear power plants around the country. Simply type in an address or ZIP code to see the plants in relation to any given location: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/nuclear_power_plants_locations/index.html

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.

Women's Week Celebrated at Ball State University

Women’s Week Map Gallery from Ball State University Libraries

Women’s Week is an annual event at Ball State University planned by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program to celebrate the achievements and experiences of women. Women’s Week is held during the last week of March, which is National Women’s History Month.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is celebrating Women’s History Month with an online gallery of maps depicting current issues affecting women around the world. These maps cover healthcare, government and politics, discrimination and seclusion, education and literacy, and other issues of society and leisure. The maps can be viewed at http://www.grmcwomensmaps.blogspot.com/

These maps can be used as a visual resource for papers and presentations. For citation information, please visit or contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Maps of Libya Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Libya Maps Available from Ball State University

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes thousands of maps of Africa and the Middle East that could be used in research and learning. This collection includes a large collection of maps of Libya.

The GRMC has a set of topographic maps of Libya at 1:100,000-scale. A set of historic Army Map Service topographic maps of Tripoli at 1:5,000-scale is also included in the collection.

The Central Intelligence Agency published maps of Libya depicting ethnic groups, economic activity, and population of the country. An inset map also shows Libya in relation to the size of the United States.

A 1991 travel map of Libya includes inset maps of Tripoli and Benghazi (shown above). A map of the Sahara Desert from 2006 also includes an excellent map of the coast of Libya. Another map shows the oases of the Sahara Desert located throughout Libya. City plan maps of Benghazi, Tripoli, and Derna are also included in the collection.

Nautical charts of the coastal cities of Libya offer detailed maps of the cities. The GRMC also includes a historic nautical chart of Benghazi (shown above) from 1931 that was published by the Italian government and later used during World War II by the German government. Other historic maps in the collection show Libya as part of the Italian colonial empire.

The entire collection of maps of Libya in the GRMC has not yet been cataloged, so many will not appear in the University Libraries’ CardCat system. Please contact the GRMC or visit Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 to see this array of maps.

All maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

Persian New Year Celebrated at Ball State University

Persian New Year Celebrated at Ball State University

The Tajik Students Association and the University International Ambassadors Club with the support of the Rinker Center for International Programs will be hosting a celebration of Navruz on Friday, March 18 in the Ball State University Student Center Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. Navruz is the Persian New Year and is celebrated by Persian people and the related cultural continent including Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other parts of central Asia. The celebration marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Iranian calendar.

The event will celebrate the Persian culture. Tajik and Iranian cuisine will be featured, as well as music and dancing performances. The event is free and open to the public.

Japan Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Japan

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library includes a large collection of maps of Japan. This collection includes over 2,000 maps of Japan, the country’s main islands, regions, and cities, and includes topographic maps, street maps and city plans, nautical charts, land use maps, and numerous other cartographic resources.

Many of the maps date back to the war era and were published by the Army Map Service and Defense Mapping Agency. A set of aviation charts of Japan still includes the original “restricted” stamp from the U.S. government. War-era nautical charts are also available in the GRMC. Complete sets of topographic maps at 1:50,000- and 1:25,000-scale are included in the collection.

The map above depicts the city of Sendai, Japan as it appeared in 1945. The nautical chart of Sendai shown above is from 2004, and also includes some of the areas depicted in Geo Eye’s before-and after aerial images shown in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-japan-before-and-after-tsunami.html.

The maps of Japan are not cataloged so cannot be accessed using the University Libraries’ CardCat system. Please visit the GRMC to view the entire collection of maps or contact Melissa Gentry at 765-285-1097 or mgentry@bsu.edu.

All maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

Historic Cities Available from Digital Media Repository

American Cities Historic Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has provided more maps for a new collection on the University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository. The American Cities Historic Maps digital collection is now available in the Digital Media Repository at http://libx.bsu.edu.

This collection includes 23 maps of American cities dating from 1855 to 1921. Cities include Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Denver, New York, Pittsburgh, Louisville, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and others. The maps include street maps, topographic maps, park maps, city planning guides and maps of city harbors.

These maps can be an invaluable resource for students and researchers studying the history of these great American cities. The original maps are also available from the GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

For more information about the Digital Media Repository, please contact the Archives and Special Collections at 765-285-5078. For more information about the maps, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Global Warming Conference at Ball State University

Ball State University Hosts Nationwide Global Warming Conference

Focus the Nation, a conference involving campuses around the country, will be held at the Ball State University Student Center tomorrow, February 24, from 9:45 to 5 p.m. The event was organized by the Students for a Sustainable Campus and is free and open to the public.

The conference will features speakers discussing various environmental issues (schedule shown above). The keynote speaker is Jesse Kharbanda, who will be presenting on clean energy in Indiana in the Ballroom at 10 a.m. Jim Lowe will be discussing the Ball State University geothermal project from 12:45 to 1:20 p.m. in the Forum Room.

Maps from the Ball State University Libraries GIS Research and Map Collection will be featured in the registration area. The GRMC also created a poster for the event showing global warming warning signs.

Black History Month Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

Black History Month in Maps at Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is featuring the Harlem Renaissance map as the “Map of the Month” for February. The map, titled “Harlem Renaissance: One Hundred Years of History, Art, and Culture,” was created by Ephemera Press in 2001 and depicts the great writers, artists, and entertainers of the Harlem neighborhood in New York. This map is available for circulation from the GRMC.

A special Black History Month exhibit also features maps from The Atlas of African-American History and Politics: From the Slave Trade to Modern Times by Arwin D. Smallwood with Jeffrey M. Elliot available from the Atlas Collection. The first map shows the locations of the mosques in the Nation of Islam. The second map describes the travels of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

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

Focus on Europe Spring 2011 Panel Discussion at Ball State University Libraries

Focus on Europe Spring 2011 Panel Discussion Held at Ball State University Libraries

The Focus on Europe panel discussion will be held at Bracken Library, room 104, on Tuesday, February 8 at 5:00 P.M.

The theme for the discussion is Crossing Borders: Immigration in Europe. Europe’s borders are open: Where do people go? What do they experience? Get insights into current issues on immigration in European countries. The panel will include students from Romania, France, Turkey, and Germany.

The event is co-sponsored by the European Studies Committee, the Department of Political Science, the Department of History, and the Department of Modern Languages and Classics. The GIS Research and Map Collection will be displaying maps of Europe from the collection for the event.

For more information, please contact Dr. Gene Frankland, Professor of Political Science at gfrankla@bsu.edu or Eva Weyhofen, graduate assistant, Intensive English Institute, at emweyhofen@bsu.edu.

Map of Cairo from Ball State University Libraries

Tahrir Square in Cairo on the Map

This map of Cairo from the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library shows the location of Tahrir Square in Cairo, the site of the revolutionary protests since January 25. The Egyptian Museum and Hilton hotels are shown to the north and west, as well as the Sixth of October Bridge. This map is one of the many current and historical maps of the Egyptian city available for research and learning from the GRMC.

Mount Kilimanjaro Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Mapping the Trek: Mount Kilimanjaro in Maps

Dr. Rajib Sanyal is the Dean of the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. Sanyal has taught internationally, in both India and New Zealand, and has presented research papers at seminars and conferences around the world. He is the author of a textbook on international management, has designed experiential exercises for classroom instruction, and has been published in numerous refereed journals. In January of this year, he added a successful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to his impressive resume’.

Sanyal’s climbing group hiked for nine days using the Western Approach Route to reach the 19,340-foot peak. “We climbed from tropical rainforest to Arctic Circle temperatures where there was snow and only rocks—not a blade of grass or any vegetation. So terrain, vegetation, and climate changed.”

The group had a team of four very experienced guides leading the group up the mountain. One guide led the single-file line while two followed closely behind to check on stragglers. The fourth guide roved alongside the line of climbers to tend to everyone’s needs. In addition, the group had 39 porters, one cook, and one waiter for the expedition. The group began with eleven climbers, and ten successfully reached the summit, including Dr. Sanyal.

Dr. Sanyal returned to Ball State University and visited the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) to find maps of Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro. The GRMC has in its collection a variety of topographic maps of areas and landmarks around the world.

The topographic map “Kilimanjaro” (click above to enlarge) was created by the Ordnance Survey Mapping Division at a scale of 1:50,000. The map clearly marks the topography of the summit and the stark line where vegetation on the mountain ends. The map shows the location of “Uhuru Peak” (the mountain’s highest point) with the 19,340-foot elevation shown.

A second map used by Dr. Sanyal combines a satellite aerial image with contour lines, roads, water sources, bivouacs, and campsites. This map shows the location of Kilimanjaro inside Tanzania just along the border with Kenya. The map also includes a diagram of the vegetation zones discussed by Dr. Sanyal—from savannah to what is called Alpine desert to the summit zone. Dr. Sanyal was able to retrace the path of his expedition up the mountain using these maps.

All of the over 140,000 maps in the GRMC can be circulated for two weeks or longer. For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00.

Holiday Hours in the GRMC

The GIS Research and Map Collection in Bracken Library will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on January 17, 2011. The GRMC will reopen at 8:00 Tuesday, January 18.

Sudan Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Southern Sudan

A weeklong referendum to determine independence began on Sunday in southern Sudan. Civil wars have marked Sudan’s history for decades as Sudan’s southern region has fought against the government in the north. The oil-rich region in the south has been given a chance to vote to secede to form a new nation as a result of the 2005 US-brokered deal to end the latest civil war.

Violence broke out on Saturday along the north-south border near the region of Abyei—a disputed area. This map (click to enlarge) available from the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library marks the north-south border with red arrows. A blue arrow shows Abyei, which has been the site of killings in recent years. Juba, the capital of South Sudan, is also identified.

The GRMC includes several historic and current thematic maps of Sudan and detailed maps of Darfur, another disputed area of Sudan. The Map Collection includes vegetation, geological, road, and topographic maps of the country and Khartoum.

Maps of Sudan have not been cataloged, so researchers can visit or contact the GRMC to learn about the range of maps available. All maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

Australia Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Queensland, Australia

Widespread flooding in Queensland and parts of New South Wales has put Australia in the world news. The map of Queensland (above) shows the areas near the city of Rockhampton and the Fitzroy River and Burnett River where some of the flooding has occurred. Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has a large collection of maps of Australia for researchers or others interested in the country.

The collection includes hundreds of topographic and thematic maps of the nation as a whole. Topographic maps of Australia include sets at scales of 1 to 50,000; 100,000; and 250,000. The GRMC also has ortho-photo topographic maps and aerial photography of New South Wales from as recent as 2002. A complete set of aerial photography of South Australia is also available. These maps were used by Ball State students studying at the Australia Center for the completion of class projects.

Thematic maps, including land-use maps, tourist and travel maps, and soils and vegetation maps are available for all the states and territories of Australia: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. There is also a large collection of Australia city maps, including architecture guides and city plans. The GRMC also has a set of maps called the Atlas of Australian Resources, which includes maps of mineral deposits, drainage systems, rainfall, temperatures, population density, health services, underground water, forest resources, sheep and wool, and power and fuel.

The maps of Australia have not been cataloged and will not appear in the University Libraries’ CardCat system, so please contact or visit the GRMC to see the complete collection of maps. These maps can be circulated for two weeks or longer.

The GRMC is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00, and the phone number is 765-285-1097.

World AIDS Day Map of HIV/AIDS from Ball State University Libraries

World Aids Day: Map of HIV/AIDS from Ball State University Libraries

Since 1987, December 1 has marked World Aids Day, an international movement commemorated each year to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS issues, prevention, and the promotion of a search for a cure.

The map shown above (click to view larger) depicts the millions of people around the world living with HIV/AIDS as of 2007. The map is from The Penguin State of the World Atlas by Dan Smith, which is available from the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) and the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

The circle graphs depict the percentages of the population and the millions of people in each region of the world who are infected with HIV/AIDS. A quick glance shows the massive crisis affecting Sub-Saharan Africa with 22.5 million people infected with the disease, while 19% of the population of Oceania is infected.

This atlas features numerous maps depicting social issues. These maps can be used for papers and presentations for research and learning.

Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer. For information about how to cite maps, please visit the GRMC Web page or contact Melissa Gentry at 765-285-1097.

Maps of Korea Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Yeongpyeong Island, Korea

Recent events have once again placed the Korean Peninsula in the world spotlight: The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library contains hundreds of maps of the Korean Peninsula and North and South Korea, including topographic maps identifying Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea (Click to view map above larger).

The GRMC has three different sets of topographic maps of the Korean Peninsula, some created by the Army Map Service. These topographic maps are available at 1:50,000; 1:250,000; 1:500,000 scales.

The GRMC also houses a set of city plan maps of cities from North and South Korea, including Ulsan, Keijo, Masan, Pusan, Pyongyang, Chinnampo, and Najin Rashin. Updated maps of Pyongyang, Seoul and Inchon are also available.

Numerous maps of the two countries or the combined peninsula are also available for research and learning, including the National Geographic comprehensive map The Two Koreas: Forgotten War. Bracken Library is a federal depository library, so the GRMC receives updated maps of Korea from the Central Intelligence Agency and nautical charts from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library also houses resources about Korea. Several road atlases of Korea and tourist atlases of Seoul are available. Many of these atlases are available in English and Korean.

For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 or email Melissa Gentry at mgentry@bsu.edu.

Thanksgiving Break Hours in the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library will be closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 for Thanksgiving Break. The GRMC will reopen on Monday, November 29 at 8:00 a.m.

Researching the History of Your House Presentation at Ball State University Libraries

History Detectives Presentation at Ball State University Libraries

“History Detectives: Researching the History of Your House” will be presented by Susan Lankford, Director of the Ball State University Center for Historical Preservation, on Tuesday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Bracken Library, room 104. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library and is open to the public.

The map shown above is from the Muncie Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps collection available in the University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections and from the Digital Media Repository. These maps are an excellent starting point for researchers interested in the history of local buildings and neighborhoods.

For more information, contact John B. Straw, Assistant Dean for Digital Initiatives and Special Collections in the University Libraries and Executive Secretary of the Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library at 765-285-5078.

Smoking Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Tobacco Maps from Ball State University Libraries

The American Cancer Society is marking the 35th “Great American Smokeout” today by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit. Quitting smoking is not easy but the American Cancer Society states that to have the best chance of quitting successfully, smokers need to know what they’re up against, what their options are, and where to go for help.

The map above shows the percentage of the population who smoke cigarettes in each country (from 2005 data). The top map shows the percentage of men who smoke. The lower map shows the percentage of women who smoke. “Although fewer women smoke than men, there is a worrying increase among younger women in many countries.”

This map is from The Penguin State of the World Atlas by Dan Smith. The atlas is available in the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library or from the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC). Another valuable atlas in the collection that features maps on various issues is The Tobacco Atlas.

Atlases can be useful educational resources as visual aids in papers and presentations, and the images from atlases can be easily scanned. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

For more information about using maps from atlases in education and research, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Geography Awareness Week at Ball State University Libraries November 14-20

Freshwater Map Presented for Geography Awareness Week

Geography Awareness Week is an annual celebration enacted by Congress in 1987 that encourages educational experiences that draw attention to geo-literacy and the importance of geography education. During Geography Awareness Week 2010, the National Geographic Society’s theme is learning about freshwater and how it connects to geography.

National Geographic published a map in April 2010 called World of Rivers: A New Mapping of Every River System. The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is displaying a copy of this map in its windows on the second floor of Bracken Library to commemorate Geography Awareness Week.

The map describes rivers and their significance in human civilization: “Rivers and lakes store less than half a percent of Earth’s fresh water, but they are the lifelines of human history—where people settled, farmed, traded, built cities, explored.” The map depicts all the major rivers of the world and their “intricacies” as smaller tributaries feed into larger rivers.

The verso of the map describes the “hidden water” consumed in the production of products. “It’s called virtual water: the amount of water used to create a product.” For example, the virtual water in meat like pigs, cattle, and chickens is the water the animals drink and the water used to grow their feed and clean their waste and process the edible end product. In order to produce one pound of beef, it takes 1,857 gallons of water.

Cotton is an example given on the map of a water-intensive crop—it takes a lot of water to transform cotton into fabric. One pair of blue jeans requires 2,900 gallons of water to produce. One cotton t-shirt takes 766 gallons of water.

National Geographic clarifies that “more important than any product’s virtual-water total is whether the region it comes from has sustainable water to grow the crop.” The challenge will be to increase water-use efficiency in the production of future products.

This map is encapsulated for convenient display and can be circulated from the GRMC for two weeks or longer. For more information about using maps for education and research, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Maps of Jerusalem Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Jerusalem

Jerusalem is once again in the international spotlight. Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library contains over 140,000 maps and other geographic resources, including dozens of maps of the city of Jerusalem.

The National Geographic Society in 2008 published a map called Crucible of History: The Eastern Mediterranean which features a map of Jerusalem’s holy ground on the verso. The map includes historical notes and a timeline, a map of the Old City of Jerusalem, and colorful illustrations of temples and domes.

The Central Intelligence Agency published a map in 2006 of Greater Jerusalem. This map shows settlements, refugee camps, fences, and walls. A chart on the map describes plans for new settlements.

Heart of the Middle East from 2002 is another map published by the National Geographic Society that features an inset map of Jerusalem. This map includes ancillary maps depicting conflicts in the region since 1948, religions, and oil and water on the verso.

The GRMC also includes several maps of the Old City of Jerusalem (shown). Some of the maps date back to when East Jerusalem was controlled by Jordan.

Archaeology of Jerusalem: First Temple, Second Temple, and Byzantine Periods is actually four maps included on one sheet. This map includes major archaeological remains that are visible today and a Diagram of Madaba map. Jerusalem: Pictorial Map and City Guide includes a map of the historic buildings of the city and line-art sketches of the actual architecture.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

For more information about these maps or any of the cartographic resources, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday at 765-285-1097.

Election Cartographic Materials Available from Ball State University

Map the Vote: Political and Election Cartographic Materials from Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has created cartographic subject guides to assist researchers searching for geographic materials related to multiple academic fields. Ball State University Libraries includes a wealth of valuable cartographic resources on numerous topics, and the subject guides include materials in the GRMC, the Atlas Collection, Educational Resources Collections, the General Collection, Government Publications, Oversize, and the Reference Collection. These cartographic subject guides are available in PDF-format on the GRMC Web page “Research Tools” section at http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/Libraries/CollectionsAndDept/GISandMaps/MapCollection/ResearchTools/SubjectGuides.aspx.

Students of political science or others interested in the election process may wish to use the subject guide Cartographic Resources for Political Science and Elections Research. Maps and other cartographic resources can be an ideal tool for illustrating various information and statistics about elections. The widely-used “blue states and red states” explanation of states’ party affiliations has become a cultural phrase and was made popular from an election map from the 2000 presidential election.

This cartographic subject guide lists the many maps and atlases about elections—current and historical—available from Ball State University Libraries. In the GRMC researchers can review maps of the newly-drawn Congressional districts, presidential election results since 1789, and even state and local city council districts and precinct boundaries.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library can also be an invaluable resource for political research. Atlases about specific political themes are available. Atlas of American Politics, Atlas of American Women, Atlas of U.S. Foreign Relations, Atlas of World Affairs, Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989, and Student Atlas of World Politics are all available from the Atlas Collection. Ball State University Libraries also includes rare atlases about the 2000 and 2001 elections in Kosovo.

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

Please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 for more information about these resources or other cartographic subject guides.

Ball State University Libraries' Collection of Indonesia Maps

Maps in the News: Indonesia

Natural disasters have once again put the archipelago country of Indonesia in the news: The nation has been hit by an earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption all in a matter of days. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library has a diverse collection of maps of Indonesia available for researchers.

The National Geographic Society featured a map of Indonesia in its magazine in 1996. This map depicts a basic location map of the country’s 17,000 islands on one side with several ancillary maps on the verso. A contour map is centered on the verso circled by ancillary maps showing economic activity, a map of timber exports, a population map, and maps depicting rainfall amounts and climate zones. The map also features colorful illustrations of the unique plant and animal species native to Indonesia.

Updated maps of the nation including the addition of the country East Timor are also available from the GRMC. Individual maps of Sumatra, Bali, Java, and Sulawesi are also included in the collection. As an archipelago, Indonesia is also featured on dozens of nautical chart maps in the GRMC including maps produced by the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Royal Australian Survey Corps. Maps of Jakarta are also available, and many of the maps are presented in English, Indonesian, German, Dutch, Japanese, and French.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library also includes several resources about Indonesia. The collection includes Atlas Republik Indonesia, Historical Atlas of Indonesia, Illustrated Atlas of Indonesia, Indonesian Travel Atlas, and Road Atlas of Indonesia. Atlases of Jakarta are also available.

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

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

Weekend Getaway Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Fall Breaking Away: Central Indiana Weekend Getaway Maps from Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library offers over 140,000 maps for circulation. Some of the most popular maps in the collection include convenient travel maps of tourist destinations. Ball State students planning a weekend getaway for this weekend or for the upcoming fall break may wish to check out some of the maps of places around central Indiana.

This is the final weekend of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. This annual event is headquartered in Rockville and includes guided tours of the covered bridges and crafters, vendors, and entertainment. The GRMC has available two different maps featuring the covered bridges of Parke County. The map of Parke County shown above features points of interest and information about camping sites, horseback riding, and boat rental and canoeing on the Wabash River and at the Raccoon Recreation Area near Hollandsburg.

A closer destination for Ball State students is the Mounds State Park in Anderson. The map shown above from the GRMC details the trails winding through the park and shows contour lines.

Another resource available from the GRMC is Indiana State Parks: A Guide to Hoosier Parks, Reservoirs, and Recreation Areas by John Goll. This book features detailed maps and helpful information about visiting any of the state parks throughout Indiana and is an excellent guide for campers, hikers, fishermen, boaters, hunters, and nature lovers.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. And many of the travel maps are waterproof so they can be used on excursions.

For more information about these maps or any other resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.

International Festival October 14 at Ball State University

Amazing Taste and iFest at Ball State University October 14th

The Ball State University Rinker Center for International Programs, the Multicultural Center, and the University Program Board are joining forces with Ball State Dining Services to sponsor this year’s International Festival. The event will be called “The Amazing Taste: Global Food Fair and iFest,” and will be held in the lawn between DeHority Park and Woodworth Halls on October 14 from 5-8 P.M.

The University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) will be providing maps and posters for the country booths at the iFest. Every week the GRMC provides posters for the Culture Exchange at the Rinker Center for International Programs, and many of these countries will be represented at this event. Some of the countries represented are Jamaica, Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, France, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Ball State Dining Services will host an elaborate multicultural menu from around the world. Students can use their meal card for this event. Visitors can watch sword fighting and martial arts demonstrations, get henna tattoos, watch and participate in salsa and belly dancing, get caricatures and names written in various languages, listen to the steel drum troupe, play Bocce ball, and have their picture taken with live camels. (Bring your own camera).

For more information about the menu and costs, please visit http://cms.bsu.edu/CampusLife/Dining/AmazingTasteMenu.aspx.