Compiled on behalf of IFLA’s Section of Geography and Map Libraries, from questionnaires printed in six languages, which were sent out in 1998, with reminders in 1999, this fourth edition of the World Directory lists 714 collections housed in national libraries and archives, in university and public libraries, in geographical, geological, and hydrographic institutes, and in museums, in 121 countries, an increase of 192 collections from the previous edition. Collections holding fewer than 1,000 maps are generally excluded unless they form part of the national library or national archives or, perhaps represent the only organised map collection in a given country.
Arranged A‐Z by the English name of the country, followed by the English form of the city or other location name, and then by institution, the entries first provide the name of the collection, its status (independent or an institutional department) its postal and addresses, and its Web site. The person responsible for the collection is named; the date of the collection with, in many cases, a brief historical outline; staff numbers; and the area occupied is broken down into public rooms, workrooms and storage areas. Following this basic information, it is the turn of the size of the collection in terms of map sheets, books, journals, and microfilm reels, and also the acquisition method. The nature of the collection is recorded in some detail: its geographical emphasis, its subject specialisation, its chronological span, and the largest scale of its basic national, foreign countries, and world coverage maps. Special collections are described, their bibliographic control is outlined to indicate how easily items can be identified and retrieved, and their cataloguing systems examined. Access conditions, reference, lending and copying services are explained and conservation procedures and reproduction policies are specified. Finally, publications — bibliographies, inventories, exhibition catalogues, and other titles — are listed. Abbreviations, a bibliography, a name index, and an index of institutions, confirm and add to the directory’s usefulness.
