THE MAP LIBRARY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00391R000100190032-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 22, 1998
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: July 8, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

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NEMOI3ANDUM TO: Assistant Director
ORR
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FROM: Chief, Map Library Division
SUBJECT: The Nap Library as an integral part of the Geographic
Area.
1. During the past ten years the Map Library has functioned in CIA
as an integral part of the Geographic Area, with numerous relationships
with the other Divisions, over and above the servicing of maps. In the
five years prior to its entry into the CIA., in the Department of State
and in the Office of Strategic Services, the Map Library was a working
part of a larger geographic organization, which included the preparation
of maps and geographic research. The segment of the current map library
which dates furthest back was the map library of the Department of State,
in the office of the Geographer. This existed for many years prior to
World War II, and consisted of map library, cartographic facilities,
and geographic research. This Map Library, therefore, since its initiation,
and in all of its organizational changes, has existed as an integral
operating part of a larger geographic organization. All of these changes
have received management review, and the inter-dependence of the
cartographic, research, and map library activities has been recognized
in resultant organizational structure within a geographic whole.
2. It is a basic principle in government that map library facilities
are organizationally associated with the map-producing and geographic
research components. The situation with the CIA Map Library is not unique,
but, as a matter of fact, has precedents all over the city. For example,
the following map libraries are associated with geographic and map-producing
segments of their organizations, and not with central reference services
of the major organizational unit: Map Library of the Army Map Service,
Map Library of the Hydrographic Office, Map Library of the Aeronautical
Chart and Information Center, Map Library of the Board on Geographic Names,
Map Library of the U. S. Geological Survey, and the Map Library of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey. In recent years the Coast and Geodetic Survey
has re-organized its servicing facilities in order to remove the map
library from the central library and associate it more beneficially with
the chart-producing and geographic research and analysis groups. These
constitute all significant map libraries in the United States government.
The only Map Library operating as a part of the central library is the
Map Library of the Library of Congress, and there is no map-producing or
geographic research group in the organizational structure of the Library.
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3. Thus by its past history, and comparison with all other map
libraries in Washington, the Map Library of the CIA is properly located
organizationally, and has the proper relationship to map-producing and
geographic research segments of the Geographic Area, and is rendering full
and adequate service to all other users.
4. During past years the Map Library has made an envialbe record
in speed and thoroughness of map servicing to all parts of the CIA, in
spite of a location apart from the Agency. Business has been increased
year by year, and attempts to advertise the services of the map library
through orientation tours, publication of acquisition lists, talks and
briefings, and bulletin and poster advertising have yielded very
satisfactory results.
5. It is believed that the location of the CIA Map Library in a
Central CIA Building will result in the doubling, tripling, and possibly
quadrupling of requests serviced. (At the present time only the most
intrepid of research workers venture by shuttle to the Washington
Auditorium.)
6. It is believed that the location of the CIA Map Library adjacent
to all other reference services in a Central CIA Building will further
increase the number of research workers who will learn of and utilize
the Map Library because it is physically easy to do so.
7. Thus, the objectives of the Librarians' Panel Group will be
met by locating the Map Library adjacent to all other reference services.
It is strongly urged that the organizational, administrative, and substantive
ties with the Geographic Area, ORR not be broken. Within the Geographic
Area is a high degree of cooperation and working-togetherness between
Divisions, and among individuals on comparable desks, in the substantive
fields of cartography and geography.
8. No specific advantages over those already existing are seen which
would result from an organizatio ciation with OCR. Excellent
25X1A2g liaison relationships exist with with the Map Library receiving
maps culled from periodicals and other publications. The Industrial Register
is a steady customer of the Map Library, and the Map Library forwards
suitable material for Register filing as it enters the Map Library as a
by-product of foreign and domestic procurement. All Map Procurement Officers
are briefed on the Graphics Register prior to overseas departure, and many
have obtained or taken photography for that Register. Map filing agreements
have been arranged with the CIA Library. Liaison responsibilities have
been agreed upon in numerous joint talks, as they relate to maps and
air photos. Other relationships also exist, and it is believed that the
Map Library can strengthen these once physical proximity will have been
achieved in the new building.
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9. Far more significant, however, are the numerous relationships
within the Geographic Area which would be minimized, weakened, and possibly
destroyed if the organizational association were broken. It should be
rememberd that the Map Library services the Geographic Area in the same
manner as any other requester. In addition, however, there are numerous,
non-service relationships of a substantive, cartographic and geographic
nature that require the understanding and cooperation that results from
association within the Geographic Area. There follow a number of examples of
these relationships:
a. The Map Library is responsible for the conduct of a
large, map procurement and reporting operation in overseas areas.
The time and efforts of personnel in the Cartography and Geographic
Divisions are utilized freely by the Map Library in the discussions
leading to determinations of Area priorities in procurement.
Individuals in all Divisions have a genuine interest in procurement
planning and fulfillment of their requirements. This type of full
utilization of the time of other components is easily effected with one
Area. The crossing of Office lines would present many conflicting
problems of priority.
b. Foreign procurement problems are discussed in Area staff
meetings and considerable benefit to the overall map procurement
and reporting program is thus derived. Many times personnel of the
Geographic Division have undertaken special missions in the past,
to assist the Area's interest in procurement for production require-
ments. Further, members of the Geography Division frequently move
into Geographic Attache positions, utilizing their experience gained
in the Geographic Area to further Area goals in procurement. The
understanding of the entire Geographic Area, its makeup, and its
objective{, makes Geography Division personnel extremely desirable
as Geographic Attachds. The latet recommendations for Geographic
Attache posts in Bonn and Paris are members of the Geography Division.
c. The Geography Division furnishes essential assistance to the
Map Library staff in evaluating and selecting map materials requested
for specific purposes 'here professional knowledge of the content
and adequacy of information is required.
d. The Map Library maintains a full stock collection of all
maps produced by the Cartography Division. A whole series of relation-
ships exist between the two divisions relating to determination of
numbers of stock copies to be held, initial printings, re-runs,
classification, control, special limitations, corrections, distributions
to primary and secondary requesters, release to special individuals,
changes in classification, and other matters. The two Divisions
function as parts of an operating whole in this whole matter. All of
these items are in addition to the less complicated matter of servicing
research personnel.
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e. The Map Library frequently consults the Ge:Tap y Division
with respect to desirability. of re-running specific maps, learns
of new production plans, more recent information than that shown
on maps, and in general obtains an up-to-date assearsment of the
feasibility of a re-run.
f. The Cartography Division screens all MIS etc. materials,
selecting items for inclusion in Map Library files. (Vos to expand)
g. The Cartography Division devotes a considerable amount of time
to counseling Map Library personnel in matters relating to map
reproduction, best methods of reproducing unique maps in quantity,
color experimentation, and other matters. This results in large
part from the recognition of the unity and overtones of cooperation
in the whole Geographic Area.
h. The Map Library procurement desks and map files in most cases
form significant parts of the working files of personnel in the
Geography and Cartography Divisions. Personnel of the Geography
Division, particularly, have established bi-lateral arrangements with
procurement desk officers in the Map Library for the maintenance of
map information. Geography personnel frequently use these files on
NIS and other research projects.
i. The staff of the Foreign Procurement section of the Map
Library has many relationships with the Geography Division, relating
to requirements, priorities, and production. Each benefits from this
continuing interchange of information.
j. %p Domestic Procurement section of the Map Library has similar
relationships, but in many cases prepares requirements covering the
interests of the Geography Division, advises personnel of the Geography
Division of new leads and information in map research and production,
in proposed or current air photography projects in overseas areas, and
general geographic and cartographic information. Again, this relation-
ship is in operation under recognition of advantages to the Geographic
Area as a whole.
k. The Map Library staff maintains a large depository map
collection. The make-up of this collection has resulted from Area
discussions and selection. The Special Assistant to the Ch/G spent
considerable time working with the Map Library in the determination
of types of material to be included. Iequirements of Cartography
and Geography were fully considered. The depository resulted from
full Area cooperation.
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1. The first priority in the processing and cataloging of
maps and related materials stems directly from the research and
production requirements of all Divisions of the Geographic Area.
Individual analysts in the Geographic Area work directly with their
counterparts in the Processing Branch, Map Library, to make sure that
proper work scheduling is laid on to insure the meeting of research
and map production deadlines.
M. Members of the Geography Division assist in the determination
of map series to be retained, as well as those to be eliminated from
the map collection. This process has a direct bearing on the entire
substantive program within the Area.
n. Personnel of the Geography Division cooperate with Processing
Branch personnel in the interpretation of complicated publishing
authority determinations; in the establishment of Map Library policy
with respect to newly established international and internal
boundaries, as well as new political units; and in the manner in
which the classification and regional system in use in the Map
Library will reflect any changes.
The foregoing are some of the more important examples of close working
relationships in substantive matters that exist in the Geographic Area,
These substantive relationships are closer than those with any other ciorking
parts of the DDI or the agency in general. They are based upon long of association, of understanding of the different types of cartographic
ars
and geographic problems in the Geographic Area, of experience gained in
working together, taking time to think about the other Division's problem,
and seeking the most appropriate solutions to
of the Geographic Area has served for problems. The staff meeting
map library, many years as the meeting ground for
'aphy, and research interests. To this has more
recently been added the photographic interests.
in the Geographic Area in
In these meetings, and enera
e has been developed. It isgbel evedathatethissis recogni and mutual support
of the agency. The removal of the Map Libra would gotz n in
hamany
ve parrs
effect upon the strength of the Map Library not only have a serious
harmful to the general structure and P P o hit so py activity., f the e but r also prove
Geographic Area.
rea.
Accordingly, it is strongly urged that the foregoing be given careful
consideration, and that the Map Library be permitted to remain within the
administrative, organizational and substantive structure of the Geographic
Area, ORR.
On the basis of past history, comparison with map libraries in the
entire federal government, and recognition of the substantive inter-
relationships existing in the operation of the Map Library in the
Geographic Area, it is believed that the request for retention of the
status quo is highly justified. It is further believed that the
desirable features of a centralized reference service for the CIA can
be met by the physical adjacency of the Map library to all other
reference services in the new CIA building.
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