Discuss about different geographical sources in detail.

Introduction:

Geographical information can be located in a variety of sources of information. Each has its usefulness. Geographical sources consist primarily of graphic representations. Most of them are produced through team effort. These are made use of to find out answers to geographical questions.

Types of Geographical Information Sources

We may divide geographical information sources into two categories for convenience purposes:

1. General Reference Sources (covering geographical information as well)

2. Specific Sources (covering geographical information only)

1. General Reference Sources

Sources such as Biographies and indexes, Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries, Sources of statistics, and Biographical sources are all reference books in their own right that serve as information sources for geography. However, they also contain a lot of other information relating to other areas. The scope of all these sources goes beyond geographical information. Therefore, they are called general reference books containing useful geographical data.

2. Specific Reference Sources

Specialized geographical information sources used in reference work can be divided into three categories:

i. Maps, Atlases, and Globes

ii. Gazetteers

iii. Travel Guides

i. Maps, Atlases, Globes

Maps, atlases, and globes are the main sources of geographical information. Let us see what these sources how they are ways to in are.

Maps:

According to ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science (1983), “a map is a representation normally drawn to a scale and on a flat medium of a selection of material or abstract features on, or in relation to, the surface of the earth or another celestial body.”

Atlas:

According to ALA Glossary, an atlas is, “a volume of maps, plates, engravings, tables etc., with or without descriptive letter press. It may be an independent publication or may have been issued to accompany one or more volumes of text.”

Globe:

The difference between a map and a globe is of form. A map is any geographic image of the earth drawn to scale on a flat surface whereas a globe is a spherical representation of the earth’s surface.

Types and Examples

Maps and atlases may be grouped under broad following two types:

(a) General and Topographical Maps and Atlases:

General and topographical maps and atlases are further divided into three classes according to their area of coverage:

(b) International Maps and Atlases:International maps are the maps created according to international specifications and they are accepted globally.

Example: The Times Atlas of the World. 8th comprehensive edition. London: Times Newspapers, 1990.

(c) National Maps and Atlases:

Almost every country has a national cartographic agency.

Example: The National Atlas of United States of America. Washington: U.S. Geological Survey, 1970.

(d) Local Maps and Atlases:

To portray the physical features and thematic specifications each country produces in addition to state or country maps, atlases and local maps.

(e) Either City Map:

Delhi, include Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida.

(f) Special or Thematic Maps:Thematic maps depict specific subjects, themes or types of development. Economic, political, land use surveys, rainfall, rail/road air routes, minerals, climate, and production of different crops, language, population, and religion – all fall under this category.

(g) Historical Atlases:

Example:

Muir’s Historical atlas: Ancient Medieval and Modern/ed. By R.F. Treherne and H. Fullard.

10th ed. London: Philip, 1976. (2 vol. In one)

(h) Economical and Social Atlases:1983 World Bank Atlas: Gross National Product, Population and Growth Rates. Washington, D.C., World Bank, 1983.

(i) Demographic Atlases: India Census Atlas: National volume. 1981,

(j) Tourist Atlases: Examples include: Tourist Atlas of India/by A.K. Kundu.

(k) Religious Atlases: A Historical Atlas of Islam/ed. By William Brice. Leiden: Brill, 1981.

ii. Gazetteers

A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary of places arranged alphabetically. It serves as a finding list for geographical places like towns, oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc., giving indication about location usually in the form of exact latitude and longitude and a brief description such as pronunciation, populations, are historical and socio-economic information, etc.

Types and Examples

Gazetteers can be grouped on the basis of their scope of coverage as:

(a) International Gazetteers: Examples include: The Statesman Year Book and World Gazetteer. 2nd London: MacMillan, 1979.

(b) National Gazetteers:

Examples include: National Gazetteer of the United States of America: United States since 1990. Washington: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1990.

(c) Local/District Gazetteers:

Examples include:

Orissa District Gazetteers/ed. By Nilamanisenapti. Koraput, Cuttack: Govt. Press, 1966.

iii. Travel Guides or Guidebooks

The ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science defines a travel guide as a handbook for travelers that give information about a city, region or a country or a similar handbook about a building, museum, etc.

Travel guides may be grouped into two categories, viz.

a. One-time Guides:

Example: Ghosh A. Guide to Nalanda. Delhi: Manager of Publications, 1950.

b. Series Guides:

Example: Muirhead’s Blue Guides. London: Ernest Benn.

Conclusion:

Geographical sources are important sources of information. Every large library should have an extensive collection of these. Even a small library should have a few basic geographical sources. The number and variety of these sources is extremely large, varying greatly in quality. One should select them rather carefully. For this one should take into consideration reviews written by experts.

Related items :

Ashurbanipal Library [Read]

Ancient writing materials [Read]

Bangladesh National Library –Location, history, function, collection, facilities [Read]

Communication; Types; Components [Read]

Classification; Purpose; Function [Read]