Discovering and Using Historical Geographic Resources on the Web

Books about web resources often consist of lengthy lists of long URLs, many of which were out of date before publication. Written by Dodsworth and Laliberté, this new guide to online historical geographic resources is not one of those books. Yes, the book has lists, but they make up only a small portion of the total volume. In addition, most sites listed originate with university libraries or government agencies, which tend to have somewhat more stable URLs. With its detailed descriptions of cartographic resources and the authors’ guidance on the use of those resources, this is a valuable book for librarians. For example, the section on fire insurance maps contains a short history of insurance cartography as well as a brief discussion of color and symbols, scale and corrections, uses in historical research, and a guide to accessing these resources. Overall, this is a very useful introduction to geographic resources (primarily maps and aerial imagery). Although the chapters are brief, they provide adequate summaries of resources. Readers needing more information should consult the reference section located at the end of each chapter. . . .[T]he book is very useful for librarians and others looking for a quick primer on historical cartographic resources located on the web. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers. * CHOICE *
This is the 6th in title in the Practical Guide for Librarians series, intended to provide help to librarians with planning and implementing new library services and programs. This particular guide, as stated in the preface, introduces the wide variety of options available online for exploring history using geographic information. With the explosion of digitized historical content on the Web, this guide is indeed timely. The first chapter introduces map history in general, along with basic map concepts, and the second explores various online options for locating and retrieving digitized historical maps. Three remaining chapters describe and help users locate historical geographic information, including: surveys and plans; photographic (aerial) images; textual information (e.g., gazetteers, directories, and writings); sound recordings; and other ephemera. The authors emphasize resources produced by libraries and archives in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but many of these include collections that are global in scope. Each chapter also lists recommended resource by state or province. The resources noted would be useful in supporting research in a variety of disciplines beyond history, including agriculture, natural resources, urban studies, archaeology, and more. This work would be beneficial for new reference and instruction librarians with an interest in historical and geographical resources, or for experienced library professionals looking to expand their reference repertoire. * American Reference Books Annual *
Dodsworth and Laliberte's book is a beautifully produced guide that will help anyone seeking to use historical maps and other cartographic resources on the Web. It is especially useful because it is a comprehensive single point of access to Web resources. -- Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford and honorary president of the Society of Cartographers
If you have ever looked at a historic map and thought, ‘This is great, but I don't understand it!’, Discovering and Using Historical Geographic Resources on the Web is for you. Dodsworth and LaLiberté unfold the mystery behind digital historical maps, so that you, as an educator or library professional, can help your users apply these maps effectively in their studies, research, and everyday lives. -- Rosa Orlandini, president of the Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives