Preserve your resources and increase visibility

The Map Library of the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC) is a special library with collections of great historical value in Europe. These collections encompass global maps as well as those of various European regions, spanning from the 15th century to the present day. In total, the library's holdings comprise 350,000 maps, 60,000 books, and 350,000 aerial images.

"Our mission is to preserve the delicate, precious maps from damage and to increase the visibility of the institute's public cartographic collections," stated Noelia Ramos, Librarian at the ICGC. Because of this, the ICGC wanted to find a way of publishing their antique maps and aerial photographs online.

Publish to preserve collections

Online access is essential to connect people to library collections. The ICGC library serves a wide range of users, including researchers, archivists, and students, but also responds to inquiries from film producers, writers, and private citizens. Their materials have even been used to document facts in litigation processes, too. "Sometimes, library catalog descriptions can be complicated, which is why having a tool that puts the image at the center is crucial for users to easily find what they are looking for."

With the support of the Consortium of University Services of Catalunya (CSUC), who were already evaluating CONTENTdm®, the antique maps and aerial photographs were the first two ICGC collections to be created and published on the CSUC site. Following the publication of these two collections, the ICGC found that CONTENTdm allowed them to make an online catalog of maps and images, digitize them for the future, incorporate metadata that they had from other systems, and search and retrieve multilevel, geo-referenced documents.

"We now hold regular open sessions to introduce and talk about new collections, and our first step with any questions about maps is to refer them to our new digital Map Library." Ramos said.

ICGC staff established a new and easy process to catalog and digitize the material and then export metadata and then upload it to the server. The catalog went live in 2007, and so far, the institution has seen their mission achieved. They have also signed agreements with other public and private institutions to scan and display their old maps in the ICGC digital library, so that more people are able to view these hidden gems.

Enhance appeal with CONTENTdm

Following the implementation of CONTENTdm, the library’s website has undergone continuous expansion and customization, aiming to enhance its visual appeal and accessibility. Noelia stressed, "Our long-term partnership with CONTENTdm has enabled us to consistently refresh our content, present it in a more dynamic manner, and prioritize content curation to anticipate user interests and requirements."

The Digital Map Library now contains more than 92,000 images and has accrued 98,459 visits in just one year. "We have observed a decrease in file downloads in contrast to an uptick in digital queries. Some maps display more favorably on screens than in their original or printed formats. Therefore, the investment we made in digitization and online accessibility years ago has been corroborated by recent trends and shifts in user research and query behavior."

Library at a glance

• Founded in 1916 (IGC) and 1982 (ICC) and responsible for the geodesy, cartography, and geology of Catalonia
• Joined together in 2014, the Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya (ICC) and the Institut Geològic de Catalunya (IGC) to create the Institut Catrogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC)
• The Map Library holds as many as 320,000 maps, 60,000 books, and 350,000 aerial images