Map Collection Users' Group

Minutes of Meeting
Thursday 26 February 1998

The meeting was chaired by Mr Bernie Joyce.

1.  Attendance:

2.  Apologies:

3.  Minutes of previous meeting:

The minutes were accepted.

3.1  Business arising from the minutes and from the previous meeting.

• 3.1.1  Folded Map Section leaflet.  The leaflet has proved very popular; it has been circulated to a few departments for publicity, more will be printed and circulated to other departments soon.
• 3.1.2  Representative from Geomatics and Archi & Planning.  Bernie Joyce has succeeded in having Joe Leach attend the meeting.  No progress with Archi & Planning, but noted the presence of Nigel Flannigan at the meeting.

4.  1998 Operational Plan.

John Cain spoke on progress on some objectives from the Operational Plan.  He noted that funding is very tight this year in the library.  However, computer upgrades are a library-wide priority and so should go ahead as part of the move to Win95.  A Maps REF location has been established in the section over the summer break.  Agreement with IRD that the project to train cataloguers to classify maps will go ahead even if the project is not funded.

The meeting approved the proposal to sell surplus duplicate 1” maps to map dealers in the Melbourne area.  The sale will be on the basis of set prices for maps, with maps not sold this way sold to the best offer for those maps by a certain specified date.

5.  Map Section 1998 Materials Budget.

Additional problems for the Map Vote are unpaid invoices carried over from 1997, and outstanding orders from 1997 waiting to be filled.  These combined mean that over $10,000 of the expected 1998 Map Vote of $16,000 are already committed.  By the time serials and standing orders are accounted for, only urgently required items will be able to be purchased this year.

A list of the twelve current serials and standing orders paid for from the Map Materials Vote was presented to the meeting. Given that the percentage expenditure on serials is very low in the Map Vote, it may be possible to raise this percentage if this is necessary to retain serials needed for teaching or research.  John recommended six serials definitely be retained, as they are inexpensive and/or regularly used for Collection Management in the Section.  MCUG members suggested a number of academics who could be consulted as to the continuing relevance of the other six titles to the teaching and research of the University.

6.  Draft Map Section Strategic Plan 1998-2001.

7.  Additions to the collection.

The major recent arrival of interest is of course CDATA96, which arrived in late November.  This is now available for access in the Map Section.  Seminars on the  and a seminar on it has been presented to a number of classes.  Networking of CData96 has been delayed due to software problems, but in the short term the network copy is available in the Map Section for one week loans to University staff.

Bernie Joyce questions whether the Digital Elevation Model of Australia had arrived yet.  John Cain noted that unfortunately it had not, and he would follow up once again with Orders to try and ensure it was available as soon as possible.

8.  Departmental map needs (standing item).

9.  Other business.

10.  Next meeting.

John Cain, 18 March 1998.
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