Message-Id: <199804080119.SAA71542@dns.ccit.arizona.edu> Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 20:56:53 -0400 From: Elizabeth Roderick <mailto:eroderic@VSLA.EDU> Subject: Online Map Collection From Library of Virginia Now Available To: mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Greetings:The Library of Virginia (Richmond) has just released more than 750 digitized map images from its Virginia Board of Public Works collection (http://image.vtls.com/BPW).
The records of the Board of Public Works (1816-1903) are a unique source of information on social history, economics, commerce, and engineering in Virginia. The maps, drawings, and plans constitute an important pictorial and cartographic history of Virginia, particularly during the first half of the nineteenth century.
The Library used the MrSid Image Retrieval software from LizardTech which reduces very large map images to "thumbnail" images embedded in the text of the online inventory. A user can enlarge the map image several times by clicking on a portion of the image.
The resulting detail is extraordinary. The MrSid software has been integrated within the Board of Public Works web interface which was designed by VTLS, Inc.
We first became aware of the MrSid product as we were seeking a solution to the problem of serving such large map images online, and concerns about image quality and download times. At that time, it had been implemented by the Library of Congress for its panoramic map collection, and we were able to successfully use it for our own project.
For technical information about MrSid, the URL for LizardTech is http://www.lizardtech.com.
Many other products will be available soon as part of the Library's Digital Library Project (http://image.vtls.com), including the Charles F. Gillette Photograph Collection (nearly 900 images of the famous landscape architect's life and work); the Bernard J. Henley Marriage & Obituary Database (marriage and death notices from over 150 Virginia newspapers, 1780-1830); and several additional online indexes and image databases (Letters Received by the Virginia Executive Department, 1776-1784, War of 1812 Pay Rolls & Muster Rolls, Wills & Administrations, Confederate Rosters, Confederate Disability Pension Applications, and World War I History Commission Questionnaires).
Elizabeth
-- Elizabeth Roderick email (mailto:eroderic@leo.vsla.edu) Assistant Director, Library Development voice (804) 692-3761 and Networking Division fax (804) 692-3771 The Library of Virginia 800 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219***************************************************** http://leo.vsla.edu The LVA Digital Library Project *****************************************************