I’m fairly addicted to Google Maps which, to keep it relevant, ensured that I made it to my very first Chartership mentor meeting without getting lost! I’m not that familiar with Edinburgh, so using ‘Get Directions’ and the street view allowed me to take a virtual trip from the train station to my destination in advance. Although it turns out that my instincts would have been right on the day, the option to make the journey on foot via my PC took all the stress out of trying to find somewhere new and let me focus on why I was going there instead. I’ve used it many times since ahead of holidays so that no time is wasted finding the sights.
Due to a lot of refurbishment over the past few years, the satellite view of my library was obviously recent and most definitely in the summer. Probably that one day of sunshine last year! I downloaded the Google Moon and Mars programs as soon as they were available and can imagine how inspirational they would be as teaching tools, particularly for primary children. It’s also another way in which libraries can offer educational online resources within local communities, and it would be interesting to learn what kind of sites and programs such as these are available in public libraries. As I researched this very thing, I stumbled across Google’s newest application of their mapping technology – mapping public libraries! As a person who works in one of the largest library buildings in Scotland, I’m going to keep an eye on how successful this is. I already have a Google login, so I thought I’d give the ‘My Places’ facility on Google Maps a go and create a map referencing places I visited on a recent trip to Arbroath. Although it was a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, it was a lot of fun and would be a great way to share information on places you’ve been to and what to see. Here’s the link and embedded version of the map I created:
The controversy surrounding the street view images on Google Maps caught my attention early on, and it’s certainly lamentable that images such as house fires and unintentional invasions of privacy were photographed in the first place, never mind included. As the victim of a burglary several years ago, I was never comfortable with the fact that any stranger with internet access could obtain aerial and street views of my house, so I was relieved to learn that the street view images of any address can be removed at the request of the owner, but it’s certainly another reason why permission should be sought for certain categories of images captured for street view.
Lastly, I visited my local authority’s planning department and tested their map facility for identifying local planning applications that have been made, up to a ten year limit. The facility was much slower than the Google Maps service, but that had more to do with the limitations of my laptop and the authority’s use of very detailed ordnance survey maps than any fundamental issue with the service. My biggest concern, however, was the lack of map detail when the focus was increased to a schematic street level. Even though I live in the neighbourhood, it was easy to become disorientated without a complete list of street names. Once a location was identified, though, the information was highly specialised and detailed, demonstrating the diverse functions that maps provide for different information services.
Leigh 2.0 
It is always enjoyable to know that I have one of your posts to read. You make an effort to learn something new with each module, rather than just thinking ‘been there, done that’. As a result I often learn something new too or see another view of something. I hadn’t realised Google were now including indoor maps too. That’s quite something! I can see that maps of public libraries would be very useful. Though it does carry risks.
Thanks for your comment, Claire! There’s so many new things I’ve been learning on this course, so I’ve genuinely not ‘been there or done that’ until I’ve tackled each topic 🙂 I’ve really enjoyed looking into the Maps side of things, and it’s always interesting to find out how new online tools are being adapted for use in library and information services, since they don’t immediately seem to be related. I had no idea the local planning department had developed maps detailing local applications, so learning these things always helps me to look more laterally at a given topic. And you’re certainly right about the risks of mapping the interior of a public building, but I think to keep it in line with floor plans that are already available, perhaps simply giving more detail on the location of resources, might be the key. Another interesting aspect to keep an eye on, though.