Location, Location, Location
Now, where is that library? I know I put it here somewhere! Thanks to a mashup of Google Maps and your location in DOCLINE by Web Services Technology Operations Center (Web-STOC) programmer Aron Beal in Seattle, you can find other institutions more easily via NN/LM Member Maps. Before I get into too much detail about the member maps, let me briefly explain about Web-STOC. This team keeps our websites in good running order and keeps us compliant with federal guidelines related to accessibility. They are located at the University of Washington, which is home to the NN/LM - Pacific Northwest Region.
The Member Maps tool is useful because it provides a precise location of a library based on its primary address listed in DOCLINE through the help of Google geocoding and mapping services. What does this all mean for you? First off, it means you can search in DOCLINE, get a set of results and then see the results visually on a map.
Let’s say you want to find all Hospital Libraries in Indiana. Construct your search in the Members Directory. The Members Directory is searchable by institution, staff member’s name, city, state, zip code, library type, and other fields.
To see the same results as a map, look for this icon
on the results page and click on it.
Doing this will generate a map similar to the one below.
Use the “Center and Zoom” feature to see a street level map for an individual library, or use the zoom in/zoom out controls to focus on a particular region.
Remember that NN/LM is not just for libraries! Here in the Greater Midwest Region, our membership includes dozens of community based organizations which, like libraries, are in the business of improving access to quality health information. Some of those organizations might be right in your part of the world, ready and willing to collaborate on an exciting new project.
What if you’re not on the map?
Don’t panic! Your DOCLINE address determines where your organization will be placed on the map. If your address includes a post office box or mail stop number, Google Maps may not be interpreting it correctly. Contact DOCLINE coordinator Charniel McDaniels for assistance if your organization is missing from the map or is mapped incorrectly. We appreciate your help in making Member Maps a more complete and accurate resource.
I am originally from Wisconsin, but just moved back up to the region after 25 years or so. Since I go out periodically to do site visits and teach classes, having this feature will be invaluable. Give it a try! You can use this feature to keep connected to other members in your area.
If you are curious about other mashups, check out this article by Technology Coordinator for the South Central Region K.K. Jiang: http://nnlm.gov/scr/blog/?p=516.
