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(April 22, 2004)The CSU Library has produced an electronic atlas version of the Titus atlas, having converted the digital images on CDs into Djvu files for the web. We would still like to create a demonstration page for linking several atlases together, using an on-line GIS. (July 1, 2002) Moving ahead with the next phase of our project, we paid Repros to scan the entire 1874 Titus atlas, to determine what issues would have to be considered when we do all the atlases up to 1924. We are now evaluating the 14 CDs of digital files returned by the vendor and considering such issues as how to handle the published markups to the atlases, issued between formal editions, and how to employ GIS technology to enhance the usability of the final product.
UPDATE:The two news items for the spring of 2002 were the retirement of CPL map librarian Maureen Farrell and her replacement by Thomas Edwards and 2) a test scan of one page of the 1922 Hopkins at Repros. On the latter issue the scan came out well and Dan was able to load it into his MapInfo program easily. Several further meetings have taken place since the organization meeting metioned below and May 11, 2001, we submitted a proposal to the Ohio Memory Program, to scan the 1874 Titus atlas of Cuyahoga County. They did so, but mostly selected the lithographic images of homes to digitize and the few maps that were don't weren't adequate to our needs, so we've elected to press ahead with the original plan.
INFORMAL NOTES on the Cleveland Digital Atlas meeting of January 17, 2001 Last Wednesday's meeting at the Cleveland Public Library was the first for the group. All previous discussion has been via phone and e-mail. Attendees were Soren Hansen, (a consulting engineer, with an background in GIS and geographic data in Ohio), Rich Sicha , County Planning Comm. Chief Planner, Bill Barrow, CSU Special Collections Librarian, Dan Meaney, GIS Specialist for County Planning Commission, Maureen Farrell, CPL Map Librarian. Ann Olszewski, CPL Preservation Librarian) was present for about 1 hour. Tracy Strobel, CPL Webmaster, was unable to attend due to another meeting. Barbara Billings of Western Reserve Historical Society was also unable to attend. The meeting lasted about 2 1/2 hours. A second meeting hasn't been scheduled yet. Bill Barrow is "floating" the name CHAP: Cuyahoga Historic Atlas Project and the project now has a Web presence, http://web.ulib.csuohio.edu/chap - so far this is intended as a working page for participants to exchange info and not for public consumption. The group examined a variety of atlases for Cuyahoga County and decided because of copyright issues to use the Lake Atlas of Cuyahoga County 1874 and Mueller Atlas of the City of Cleveland and Atlas of the Suburbs of Cleveland both 1898 for a pilot project. The group would like to test methods (photography & scan v.s. direct scan) with a variety of vendors to see quality of vendors' work. Probably a "test" of 10 pages per volume including the index map for each. As far as technical specifications, most felt that MrSid would be the logical choice for compression software since it handles large images so well and has been so useful for the Library of Congress and other institutions with similar programs. Images should be raster and files formatted as TIFF. Since the technology is changing so fast, most felt that it was better to contract out the digitizing than try to buy expensive equipment and train staff to scan or photograph. Committee members are investigating "seed money" sources - perhaps about $5,000 for this phase. Each participant was to approach their organization about funds. No decision has been made on who will host the server for this project etc beyond Bill Barrow's temporary provision of "space" at CSU. Maureen Farrell has been delegated to draw up a list of possible vendors and a Request for Information form for the pilot project. Bill Barrow is working on the wording of the purpose statement. and temporary web site Dan Meaney is working on "fleshing out" an outline based on the agenda and contacting other agencies about funding and participation. On Saturday, vie e-mail NEDCC's HANDBOOK FOR DIGITAL PROJECTS online (www.nedcc.org/digital/) was suggested as a good reference tool for this project. A preliminary list of possible copies of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps available in institutions, compiled using the Library of Congress list, and one from the Western Association of Map Libraries, (both dated) was distributed by Maureen Farrell. Concerns over possible copyright complications shelved the original idea of using Sanborns for a pilot project. Digitization of these maps may be considered as a later phase of the project.
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