Maps in the News: Namibia

Maps in the News:  Where in the World is Namibia?

Today Show host Matt Lauer is once again travelling the globe for the “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” segments. This morning Lauer revealed that he was in Namibia, skiing on the sand dunes near Walvis Bay. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library will be following along with Lauer’s journey featuring maps of the destinations.

A Central Intelligence Agency map above (click to enlarge) shows the size of the country of Namibia in comparison to the United States. A map depicting the Skeleton Coast is also available in the GRMC.

The Globetrotter Travel Map of Namibia features city maps of Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay (shown). This map also includes regional climate charts and maps and photographs of places of interest (shown above). The map also includes an inset map of Etosha National Park.

The GRMC also includes a set of topographic maps of Namibia, maps of homelands and ethnic groups, maps of economic activity, and historical maps of Namibia as Southwest Africa. A new map of Namibia from International Travel Maps includes a vegetation classification diagram, relief maps and inset maps of cities.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library also includes a road atlas of Namibia, the New Namibian School Atlas, First Atlas for Namibia, and Lonely Planet’s travel atlas of Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.

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

Ball State University International Festival

Amazing Taste and International Festival at Ball State University November 10

The Ball State University Rinker Center for International Programs, the Multicultural Center, the University Program Board, and Housing and Student Government 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 International Fest,” and will be held in the Student Center on November 10 from 4-8 P.M. This year’s event will feature a street fair atmosphere with cuisine from more than 20 countries, cultural activities and displays, and live music and dancing. An international dance party ends the evening from 8-10 P.M.

The University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) will be providing maps and posters for the country booths at the International Festival. 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 Morocco, Scotland, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Japan, Italy, and Brazil.

Ball State Dining Services will host an elaborate multicultural menu from around the world. Students can use their meal card for this event. Cost for the food fair is $7.55 for students, $8 for non-students, $5 for children ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and under. Pre-purchasing of wristbands begins in the Student Center Tally on Monday, November 7. View the complete menus here: http://cms.bsu.edu/CampusLife/Dining/Specials/TheAmazingTaste/AmazingTaste2011Menu.aspx.

Access to the cultural displays and activities is free. Visitors can participate in salsa dance lessons, visit a New York City-style mock cosmo lounge, a photo booth, and a global fashion show. The fair will include live camels, Scottish dancers and bagpipes, the PanUSA steel drum band, the Ball State Belly Dance Club, and hip hop dancers. Visitors can also get henna tattoos, participate in a Capoeira lesson (Brazilian martial art), and watch Taekwondo demonstrations. The complete list of events is here: http://cms.bsu.edu/CampusLife/Dining/Specials/TheAmazingTaste/AmazingTaste2011PerformancesandActivities.aspx.

For more information about using maps and other resources from the GRMC for classroom displays, exhibits, and other special events, please call 765-285-1097 or email mgentry@bsu.edu.

November Map of the Month

Ball State University Libraries’ Map of the Month: Historic Plymouth, Massachusetts


The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library is featuring a map of historic Plymouth, Massachusetts, for the “Map of the Month” for November. The map, Historic Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1620, was published by the Plymouth Board of Selectmen. The map includes pictorial points of interest, an inset map of seaside Manomet, and an indexed map of Plymouth on the verso.


Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. For more information, please call 765-285-1097 or email mgentry@bsu.edu.

Haunted Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Eerie, Indiana: Maps of Haunted Places Available from Ball State University Libraries

Former GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) 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 for digital format using Adobe Illustrator for a 2009 map display: Allegedly Haunted Indiana Map. The map is still a popular attraction of the Collection.

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/handle/123456789/194225/.  A map of haunted locations in the United States based on the Atlas of the Mysterious in North America from the Atlas Collection is also available from Cardinal Scholar at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/194229.  The maps can be printed for display or research.

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

Baseball Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

World Series of Maps: Baseball Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

As the World Series reaches its final games, the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) offers baseball fans and others a glimpse at some baseball-related maps. The GRMC includes a travel map locating all of the Major League Baseball stadiums. Also the Atlas of Sport available in the Atlas Collection features maps on the “American game,” including the map shown above (click to enlarge) depicting the number of high-school boys playing baseball in school leagues, with Iowa leading the nation.

The GRMC has also created custom maps related to the history of baseball. Black Diamonds: Negro League Baseball Teams, 1920-1949, (shown above) was created in association with the documentary Black Baseball in Indiana, a film created as an immersive learning project by students of Geralyn Strecker, Assistant Professor in the Department of English. This map shows the location of the Negro League teams in the United States. Photographs featured on the map are from the book Playing America’s Game by Michael L. Cooper. The map is available for use from the Cardinal Scholar repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/194506. Copies of the map can be printed on the large-format plotter in the GRMC (charged to Bursar’s account) for exhibits, classroom or personal use.

Another map, The Girls of Summer: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams, 1943-1954, (click to enlarge above) commemorates the women who played professionally beginning during World War II. The map was created for Women’s History Month and is based on the book A Whole New Ballgame: The Story of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League by Sue Macy available from the Educational Resources Collections. This map is also available from Cardinal Scholar at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/194280. All maps are also available via interlibrary loan.

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

Muncie Mini-Marathon Course Map

America’s Hometown Race: Muncie Mini-Marathon This Weekend

The Muncie Mini-Marathon will take place in the city and through the Ball State University campus beginning at 9 A.M. on Saturday, October 28. The course of the race (above map) begins near the Ball State campus and takes runners through historic Muncie. Participants will pass Beneficence, Shafer Tower, Minnetrista Culture Center, the Appeal to the Great Spirit statue, McCulloch Park, the Ball brothers’ homes, and the White River Greenway. (Drivers should be aware that these streets will be closed until noon Saturday).

The event is open to runners and walkers and also includes a 5K walk and run and a one-mile walk. To register or for more information, please visit http://www.munciemultisport.com/muncie-mini-marathon/.

Food-Related Cartographic Resources at Ball State University Libraries

Mapping Fast Food

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library updates its collection of cartographic resources to provide current information for research and learning. Maps and atlases that provide a variety of useful information on topical issues are acquired for the Collection.

One of the newest atlases available in the Atlas Collection is the Atlas of Food: Who Easts What, Where, and Why. The atlas contains maps about farming, agricultural trade, genetic modification, organic farming, restaurants, consumption, and other issues related to the global food system. The map above (click to enlarge) shows the amount of cereal produced in regions around the world. The atlas also includes charts and other graphics, including the graph showing the number of Wal-Mart stores in each region (above).

The State of the World Atlas is another atlas that could be used to provide visual aids for papers and presentations. The atlas includes maps and graphics related to women’s issues, religion, war, the environment, education, healthcare and other current world topics. The graph above shows the number of McDonald’s restaurants added to regions around the world.

The GRMC also provides information about cartographic resources on the Internet for research, learning, and sometimes entertainment value. For example, McDonald’s announced the return of the “McRib” sandwich at select restaurant locations. This Web page actually maps the location of the popular sandwich around the country: http://kleincast.com/maps/mcrib.php.

For more information about these cartographic resources or how to use maps as visual aids, please contact or visit the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00.

Ball State University Libraries' Maps in the News

Places in the News: Ball State University Libraries’ Maps of Turkey, Tunisia, Syria, Kenya, and Uganda

Ercis, near the Turkey epicenter, from the Lonely Planet Turkey Travel Atlas

Central Intelligence Agency map of Uganda ethnic groups

Nairobi, Kenya region from the Cultural Atlas of Africa

Tunis, Tunisia region

These maps are available from the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library.  The GRMC is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5.

Ball State University Libraries Creates Custom GIS Maps

Ball State University Libraries Offer Customized GIS Mapping

By Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist

Among all the unique services that the University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) offers, customized map creation that meets specified scale, cartographic, and dataset requirements is one that is particularly appreciated by students and faculty. The GRMC regularly receives requests from students, faculty, staff, and community members to produce GIS maps using both public and personal datasets. The format for this data is Excel databases, addresses, GPS points, historic maps, Google KML files, and sometimes hand-drawn illustrations.

In the past year, the GRMC has provided valuable assistance in the form of customized GIS maps to grant proposals such as a Promise Neighborhood grant being sought by the Department of Elementary Education, and an Office of Institutional Diversity grant that used customized GIS mapping to relocate Indy’s historic Washington Street Park, which was the site of the first Negro League Baseball game and home of the Indianapolis ABC’s ball team.

The GRMC GIS Specialist has also worked annually with personnel to produce customized school district maps showing Indiana Advanced Placement Exam Score data released by the Indiana Department of Education. These maps have been posted at the Indiana Statehouse and used by the Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education in an effort to identify specific schools districts that may need extra assistance and to showcase districts that are excelling.

Both students and local community members request various GIS maps for class projects and inclusion into research papers. For example, graduate students in the Department of Biology have requested to have GPS data of water sampling points geocoded onto various different map backgrounds to highlight the relation of their sites to urban, residential, and rural land-use types, and to identify the specific watershed that contains each individual site.

Other customers have requested customized maps of a more recreational nature, such as maps that show the bathymetric contours of local fishing sites like Prairie Creek Reservoir and Summit Lake State Park, and elevation maps of favorite hunting and hiking areas.

For more information about having a GIS map created with your data, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Rinker Center for International Programs Culture Exchange Program Today

Rinker Center for International Programs Hosts Weekly Culture Exchange Program

The Rinker Center for International Programs hosts hour-long Culture Exchange presentations every Wednesday at noon in Student Center room 102. Each week a different country is highlighted, and presenters are typically natives who can offer an insider’s look into their country’s culture.

This week the presentation features Farah Alam teaching about the Diwali festival of South Asia. Diwali (Deepavali) is popularly known as “the festival of lights” and is an important one-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Deepavali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji (shown above).  The Tally also features a dish inspired by the country presented every Wednesday.

Next week’s presentation will be given by Sophie De Hond about Netherlands. A presentation about the holy pilgrimage to Mecca will be on November 2. Countries featured for the rest of the semester are Pakistan, Peru, Bangladesh, and Libya.

The University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) provides posters for the Culture Exchange every week. The posters feature maps and photographs from atlases depicting the culture of the country. These posters are available for use for other presentations, exhibits, or in classrooms from the Cardinal Scholar institutional repository at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/. Just type in the name of a country in the search box on Cardinal Scholar to save or print a copy of the poster.

For more information, please contact the GRMC or the Rinker Center for International Programs.

Laura Ling Speaks at Ball State University

Laura Ling at Ball State University: Mapping the Journey of Hope

Journalist Laura Ling presented “Journey of Hope” at Ball State University’s Pruis Hall last night. Ling recounted her time in captivity in North Korea and showed a video featuring footage from assignments in Mexico, Myanmar, Turkey, and other places around the world for the Current Network.

The National Geographic map of China (click to enlarge) shows the border with North Korea where Ling and journalist Euna Lee were captured along the Tumen River in March 2009. After being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor, Ling was allowed to return to the United States after diplomatic efforts by President Clinton.

During the presentation, Ling described North Korea as literally a “black hole.” She referenced seeing a satellite map of the world with South Korea lit up “like Las Vegas on steroids” and North Korea literally appearing completely dark on the map. Details from the National Geographic Earth at Night satellite map shown above graphically demonstrates this fact with both South Korea and Japan shown with white lights and North Korea nearly invisible.

These maps are available for research and learning in the GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library. Maps circulate for two weeks or longer. For more information, please call 765-285-1097.

Travel Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps Available for Fall Break Destinations

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 first 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.

Another central Indiana location is Whitewater Memorial State Park in Liberty, Indiana. The park features a 200 acre lake, family cabins and camping, and nine miles of hiking trails from easy to rugged. The GRMC has maps of this and other state parks available for circulation.

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.

Maps of Yemen and Palestine Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Palestine and Yemen

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas will seek United Nations membership from the Security Council, despite opposition from Israel and the United States. Yemen is also in the news this week as the country faces the worst violence in its uprising.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses dozens of historic and current maps of Palestine and Yemen. The map shown above (click to enlarge) is a 1947 map of the Palestine Plan of Partition proposed by the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee “on the Palestinian Question.” The orange shading represented the Arab state, and the blue shading represented the Jewish state as of 1947.

Current maps of the West Bank and Gaza are also available from the GRMC, including a terrain model published by the Central Intelligence Agency and maps showing Israeli settlements. A map folio of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is also available in the GRMC. A detailed aerial photograph of the Gaza Strip from 2007 is also available for circulation.

The GRMC also has a varied collection of Yemen maps, including nautical charts of the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. A map of the road networks of Yemen is available, as well as maps of Sana and Aden. The GRMC also has topographic maps of the Arabian Peninsula.

For more information about these resources, please visit the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 or call 765-285-1097.

Hispanic Heritage Month Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

Mapping Hispanic Heritage: Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Seven Latin American countries declared their independence during the month of September, and Columbus Day also falls within this period of celebration.

A special map exhibit commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month is currently on display in the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library, which coincides with a Hispanic Heritage book display in the lobby of Bracken Library. The exhibit features maps and images (click to enlarge above) from the Atlas of Hispanic-American History available from the Atlas Collection.

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

Miss Universe Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

Beautiful Map: Miss Universe Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

Miss Angola was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil last night. The map shown above (click to enlarge) is from the State of Women in the World Atlas available in the GIS Research and Map Collection and the Atlas Collection in Bracken Library. The purple shading identifies countries who participate in the pageant, and the crowns represent past winners. The map offers a cultural lesson of why certain regions and countries of the world do not participate in the pageant. A related inset map displays countries where Avon beauty products are sold.

For more information about this atlas, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 P.M.

Rugby and New Zealand Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Rugby Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

New Zealand is hosting one of the largest international sporting competitions in the world, the Rugby World Cup through October. The current tournament model features twenty nations competing over a month in the host nation. The United States team is gearing up to play Russia on Thursday in New Plymouth and will play later in the month in Wellington and Nelson.

The map shown above (click to enlarge) shows the participants of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the team rankings. A chart includes the former winners of the World Cup, noting that only once has the winner come from a northern hemisphere country. The final chart shows the size of the television audience and revenues for the international competition. The map is from the Atlas of Sport available in the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

This GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) also includes maps of New Zealand that are available for research and learning. The collection includes detailed topographic maps, maps of national parks, geological maps, and tourist maps including maps of New Zealand cities. The Atlas Collection also includes road atlases of New Zealand, a cultural atlas, a historical atlas, and an atlas called New Zealand in Maps.

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

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

Tour of Muncie Via Bike on September 17

Bike Tour of Muncie Set for September 17

Ball State University and other community supporters are sponsoring the Tour of Muncie via bicycle on September 17 beginning at 9:00 A.M. This is the second year for journey through Muncie that allows participants to learn about some interesting spots from their bikes.

This year six tours will be led by experts on the area, including Green City Infrastructure, Natural Areas, Community Gardens, Historic Places, Weird Muncie, and Ball State University Green Tour. Routes are 7-10 miles long, start downtown, and are suitable for most cycling abilities.

The Ball State tour will feature stops at the geothermal heating and cooling stations, the new Glick Art Glass Center, Christy Woods, and the Ball State Recreation Center and Outdoor Pursuits Equipment Rental and Resource Center.

The Weird Muncie tour (map shown above—click to enlarge) highlights strange places in Muncie including the Castle House, Algier’s Barber Shop/truck/house, the “Letters for David Letterman” mailbox, and the Muncie Inn swimming pool garden.

Participants can ride in morning and afternoon tours. Lunch will be served downtown at noon. A mini bike lap race and bike toss competition will also be held. An after-event party will be held at the Fickle Peach at 4:00. All participants will receive an event t-shirt, water bottle, and reusable shopping bag.

The Tour of Muncie event headquarters will be located in the parking lot behind the Fickle Peach on Walnut Street downtown. To register for the rides or for more information about the tour, please visit http://sites.google.com/site/tourofmuncie/home.

Ball State University Libraries' High School Football Map Exhibit

Maps in the News: High School Football Map

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library is featuring a “Maps in the News” exhibit on high school football in America. The map (above, click to enlarge) shows the number of high-school boys per 1,000 in population playing football in school leagues as of 2009. The map is from the Atlas of Sport by Alan Tomlinson from the Atlas Collection.

Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer. For more information about maps and atlases available from the GRMC, please call 765-285-1097.

Hurricane Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Hurricane Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

As the Atlantic coast prepares for Hurricane Irene to make landfall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is constantly updating maps of its path. Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses a number of maps and atlases depicting hurricanes and other natural hazards.

The map above (click to enlarge) shows Hurricane Isabel from September of 2003, the last major hurricane to strike the coast of the Carolinas. This map is from the World Atlas of Natural Hazards by Bill McGuire published in 2004. The atlas includes maps of historic events and their impact, hazard management, and future prospects for natural hazards.

The GRMC also includes maps of the relative water depth of New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina, world maps of the most intense tropical storms, and a map of the Caribbean that includes a hurricane log.

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

Maps of Libya Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Tripoli, Libya

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses a large collection of historic and modern maps of Libya, including maps of the capital city of Tripoli. The Atlas Collection also includes resources of Africa and the Sahara region including Libya.

The maps shown above are available in the GRMC. The topographic map of the region of Tripoli (click to enlarge) was published by the Army Map Service in 1942 during World War II. The street map of Tripoli (Tarabulus) displays green spaces in the coastal city. The map of the region between Tripoli and Surt along the coast is from the National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas. Tripoli is described as a tourist destination in the 2008 atlas:  A thoroughly modern city, with tall contemporary structures, a well-planned infrastructure and latter-day tourist traps, the old section was built on the original site of ancient Oea….The most impressive mosque in the city is the stately Karamanli Mosque off Green Square which, in turn, is guarded over by the most recognized landmark in Tripoli: the Old Castle—known locally as Assai al Hamra—overlooking both the harbor front and the ancient medina….As long as you observe the traditions and customs of the locals and reserve judgment on the political situation, it may prove to be one of the safest and most enjoyable destinations in North Africa.

For more information about these maps and atlases, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 P.M.

Ball State University National Road Project

National Road Farmhouse To Reopen as Heritage Site
(Provided by J.P. Hall, Indiana Landmarks)


The National Road Heritage Site at the Huddleston Farmhouse promotes public awareness of one of the first significant national engineering achievements in American transportation. The Huddleston Farmhouse is on the National Road (US Highway 40) at the western edge of Cambridge City. Indiana Landmarks will reopen its 1841 Huddleston Farmhouse in September with an entire floor of new exhibits focused on the historic National Road, from the pioneer era to the present. The new exhibits will debut on September 10 with a free open house from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. in conjunction with Cambridge City’s Canal Days festival.

The exhibits tell the 200-year story of the National Road from its start in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1806 through Indiana in the mid-1820’s to its end in Vandalia, Illinois. The new exhibits allow visitors to hear from a covered wagon traveler about the conditions on the road, the food they ate, and where they found lodging. Visitors will experience the road surfaces over time, from a bumpy mud track dotted with tree stumps to brick, concrete, and the current asphalt.

Children can try out the straw-filled mattress like the ones pioneers used on the floor of the travelers’ kitchens. At an interactive wall-sized map, visitors can click on places from Maryland to Illinois to learn more about sites to visit on the National Road today. A simulation allows tourists to drive along the road viewing important National Road landmarks of the past.

Indiana Landmarks received a National Scenic Byways Grant to create the new exhibits, which were produced by Split Rock Studios in collaboration with the Ball State University Department of Telecommunications and the Indiana National Road Association. The project also received support from private donors across the state.

Nancy Carlson, Associate Professor in the Department of Telecommunications, coordinated a student team to create the documentary completed in 2009 as an immersive learning project from the National Scenic Byways Grant from the Federal Highway Administration. Carlson and her students researched stories from residents who lived near the National Road in Indiana, which stretches from Richmond to Terre Haute near Indiana Highway 40. According to Carlson, “no one has told the many human stories of building the road, living along it or traveling across it.” The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) and University Libraries provided maps, books, and other research resources for the project. The documentary, Movers and Stakers: Stories along the Indiana National Road, is available from the Educational Resources Collection in Bracken Library.

For more information on the National Road Heritage Site at Huddleston Farmhouse, contact J.P. Hall at 317-822-7937 or visit www.indianalandmarks.org. For more information about the maps of the National Road, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Back-to-School Resources from Ball State University Libraries

Back-to-School Resources from the GIS Research and 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. Cardinal Scholar allows users to access these invaluable resources from any location with Web availability.

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 specifically for K-12 teachers. Access the Cardinal Scholar by visiting the University Libraries main Web page or directly from http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/. To find all of the available resources from the GRMC in Cardinal Scholar, click on “Communities and Collections” on the left side of the page. Scroll down to the Information Technology section, and the GIS Research and Map Collection will be under University Libraries. On the GRMC collection home page click on “browse by title” in the middle of the page. This lists all the titles in the collection. For a more specific search, you may also type in a subject, such as “Africa” or “game.” Users can click on the title of the resource and save it for use in papers, presentations, or other research or print any of the games and maps.

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/handle/123456789/194308.

The State of the World Atlas Images 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/handle/123456789/194313.

The GRMC has two large-format color plotter printers available for printing some of the large maps or posters, and a large-format laminator is also available. (The GRMC charges printing and laminating directly to the Bursar). Students and faculty can create posters to use in presentations and print them in the GRMC. A guide to creating posters is also available on Cardinal Scholar at http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/194312.

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/handle/123456789/194310.

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

 

Maps of World Refugees Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: World Refugees

The map shown above is part of a feature on world refugees from The State of the World Atlas. The atlas was created by Dan Smith in 2008 and is available from Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) or from the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

The map shows some of the areas of the world affected by the 14 million refugees worldwide. The bright red countries at the top host from 100,000 to one million refugees. The darker red countries on the bottom map show countries that have over one million internally displaced people—people who have fled their homes but remain in their own countries. For example, Colombia has 3 million internally displaced people, while Iraq has 1.8 million. These maps were created using data from 2006.

The atlas explains that “unsatisfactory and inconsistent statistics” exist to describe the plight of refugees. “While a well-respected independent U.S. organization counts 99 countries as hosting refugees, the U.N. identifies 163 host countries.” The population of refugees includes Palestinians, Iraqis, Afghans and people from countries in Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Somalia.

For more information about using atlases, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 at 765-285-1097.

GIS Presentation at the Indiana State Fair

GIS Goes to the Fair

The Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC) will be offering a presentation highlighting GIS initiatives at the Indiana State Fair next Wednesday, August 17 from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M. in the Normandy Barn (click to enlarge above map). The presentation will explain how the growing geographic information infrastructure and technology is helping make Indiana a leader in precision farming, alternative energy, economic development, homeland security, and infrastructure and environmental management.

Jim Sparks, State of Indiana Geographic Information Officer, Phil Worrall, IGIC Executive Director, and others will discuss and demonstrate some of the latest high-tech GIS data and technology advances in the state. Presentation topics include an introduction to IGIC and GIS for Indiana; demonstrations of statewide data programs, including orthophotography, LiDAR, and broadband mapping; and previews of new initiatives across Indiana, including the new IndianaMap Viewer.

Attendance to the presentation is free with a paid admission to the State Fair. Admission to the State Fair is $8. For more information, please contact IGIC at info@igic.org.

Maps of London Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: London

Researchers interested in studying the geography of London, England will find dozens of maps of the city in the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library. The maps range in scope from historic maps to reproductions to current street and tourist maps. And the Atlas Collection also includes many street finders and guides, as well as atlases of the history of London in maps.

A pictorial map of the detailing the history of the city included in the collection features images throughout the city and coats of arms. The GRMC also includes historic reproductions of views of the city in 1413, 1500, 1560, 1616, 1647, and 1749. Another reproduction shows the plan of London designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The National Geographic map Shakespeare’s Britain also features London.

Numerous tourist and guide maps are included in the collection, as well as railway and bus route maps, throughway maps, maps of theaters and cinemas, and maps of London’s postal districts. The London Crafts Map details the location of artists and other craftsmen around the city. A pictorial map of London architecture includes the locations of landmarks with building diagrams. There are also detailed maps of Westminster and other areas of London.

The GRMC created a map called Storybook England that includes works of children’s literature, including many associated with London. And the GRMC’s My Fair Lady Map of London was created to show English students the locations of sites from the play/movie.

The GRMC also includes a copy of Ben Jonson’s London: A Jacobean Placename Dictionary and The Oxford Literary Guide to Great Britain and Ireland. These reference books provide details about the history of places in London.

For more information about these maps, please visit the GRMC Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 4:30.

Maps of Somalia Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Somalia


The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes a collection of maps of Somalia and its capital city, Mogadishu. The collection also features historic maps of this region of Africa formerly known as the Somaliland Protectorate (1956 map) and Somalia and Djibouti (1977 map).

The GRMC has general maps of Somalia produced by the Central Intelligence Agency, maps showing roads, and topographic maps of the country at various scales. Maps depicting the country’s land use and natural resources, population, and ethnic groups (shown above) are also included in the collection. A chart on the map shows the clan families of Somalia and major subclans.

The satellite map of Mogadishu (above) at 1:50,000-scale was published in 1992 by the Centre Geographique Interarmees. The red circles on the map mark the locations of hospitals at that time.

Maps of Somalia have not yet been cataloged and will not appear in the University Libraries’ CardCat system, so contact or visit the GRMC for more information about the maps. The phone number for the GRMC is 765-285-1097 or email mgentry@bsu.edu.

Delaware County Aerial Photographs Available from Ball State University Libraries

The View from Above: Aerial Photograph Collection Added to Digital Media Repository


A new collection of aerial photography is now available on the Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository at http://libx.bsu.edu/.  The Roger Conatser Aerial Photograph digital collection currently contains over 1500 aerial views of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana, taken by Muncie resident Roger Conatser in 2005. The collection will grow to include aerial photographs from 1985 through 2005.


The Roger Conatser Aerial Photograph digital collection documents the landmarks and landscape of Muncie and Hartford City. The digital images of Muncie include the central business district, Ball State University, Ball Memorial Hospital, churches, schools, agricultural areas, shopping centers, the White River, Cardinal Greenway, the Minnetrista Cultural Center, parks, industrial sites, and major roadways. The courthouse square, agricultural and residential areas, industrial parks and major roadways of Hartford City are also included in this collection.


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

Maps of Syria Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Syria

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has a significant collection of maps of Syria and the Middle East. The maps include both historic maps of the country and the region and new, updated maps.

The image shown above (click to enlarge) is from a historic pictorial map of Syria from 1943 called “Illustrated Syria.” The map depicts agricultural and industrial products and places of interest, including parts of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and then Palestine. An inset map shows main roads, air routes, railroads, pipelines, and political divisions. The map text is written in English and Arabic.

Other maps of Syria in the collection include tourist maps, maps of archaeological sites, road maps with images of sites of interest, economic activity maps, and land use and population maps. A unique tectonic sketch map showing oil wells and petroleum exploration from 1978 was produced by the Foreign Scouting Service. Four sets of topographic maps of Syria at varying scales are also available. Newer maps showing administrative divisions and relief show the changing borders of the region, and many of the maps include the Golan Heights. City maps of Syria are also featured in the collection, including a reproduction of a bird’s eye view map of Damascus from 1575.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library also includes resources on Syria and the Middle East. The Historical Atlas of Syria and the Lonely Planet Atlas of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon are available for circulation for one month or longer.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

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

Ball State University Libraries Map of the Month

Looking Back: Back to School in 1978
Ball State University Libraries’ Map of the Month

The map of the month for August in the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is a map of Ball State University in 1978 (click to enlarge above). The pictorial map features all sorts of activities happening around the campus. The map offers an interesting glimpse of life at Ball State during that time and a chance to review all the new buildings and other changes to the campus.

A copy of the map is available in the Digital Media Repository. For more information about this map, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

University Libraries: Planned CardCat Downtime

Ball State University Libraries’ Catalog Upgrade

As part of a planned systems upgrade, CardCat, the University Libraries' online catalog, will be unavailable between 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 1, and the evening of Wednesday, August 3.

During this systems upgrade, the following CardCat services will be unavailable:

• Searching for items owned by the University Libraries
• My Library Account (including online renewals)
• Hold and Recall requests
• CardCat links from WorldCat, MultiLink, and MultiSearch

Users will be able to:

• Check out items, including course reserves
• Renew items in person
• Turn in items

Users researching maps, atlases, and other cartographic resources during this time may visit the GIS Research and Map Collection for assistance, and all maps and atlases can still be circulated.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while CardCat is unavailable. If you have any questions about library services or your library account during this time, please contact the Library at 765-285-5143 or via email at libemail@bsu.edu.