The New World: A Librarian's Guide to CD-Rom & Print Atlases
by Stephen Del Vecchio -- School Library Journal, 5/1/1998
Stephen Del Vecchio is Librarian at The Family Academy, New York, NY. He is writing a book called CD-ROM Reference Materials for Children and Young Adults: A Critical Guide for School and Public Libraries, to be published by Libraries Unlimited in June 1999.
Read these reviews before you plunk down $150 for a new world atlas.
A fine atlas is a work of art as much as a source of information. Opening such an atlas is, or should be, both a powerful aesthetic experience and an efficient route to geographical knowledge.
Several of the best print atlases have achieved and maintained this standard for years, and many librarians have their personal favorites. In the last five years, however, all the major atlases--and many lesser-known titles--have been published in new editions. This is in part a result of the political upheavals of the last 10 years and in part a result of digital technologies applied in new ways to cartography. The last five years have also seen the arrival of the first CD-ROM atlases that can be considered serious reference tools.
All of these factors make now a good time to survey the terrain and to chart the high--and low--elevations in the the world of atlases.
Beyond Bells and Whistles
Many atlases, both print and CD-ROM, are padded with features beyond maps and indexes--everything from satellite photos and statistical tables to electronic speaking glossaries and virtual flights over digitized terrain. Though these items can be fun, interesting, or even informative, for the purposes of this survey I've focused primarily on the features that are key to the value of these materials as reference atlases.
That means I've looked at how well each atlas works as a collection of accurate, detailed maps paired with an apparatus--usually an index--for locating places and features on those maps. I've also considered whether the atlases provide the kind of explanatory material up front that promotes a clear understanding of the information on the maps.
In looking at each atlas, here are the questions I kept in mind:
- How much information is conveyed in the maps?
- How easy is it to understand and get to that information?
- How accurate is the information?
- Does the atlas have the aesthetic and physical properties expected in such a reference tool?
In addition, for the CD-ROM and Facts on File materials, I looked at how easy it was to print and photocopy maps.
In the reviews that follow, you'll notice that few of the children's atlases are recommended for reference use. That's because none contain enough information to serve as a stand-alone reference source. And the simplification inherent in children's atlases often leads to inaccuracies.
Almost all of the CD-ROM atlases suffer from similar defects: as a consequence, these, too, are rarely recommended for reference use (see "The Great Debate: Print vs. CD-ROM," p. 48).
Finally, every class of reference work comes with its own set of philosophical, scholarly, aesthetic, and political debates. This is especially true of atlases. Scale, projections, place names, the relative coverage of different regions--all can be interpreted as political statements.But for our customers and ourselves, the immediate concerns are much simpler: Where is Srbica, Yugoslavia? What is the elevation of Flagstaff, AZ? What countries border Poland? Where is Uluru? Is Koln, Germany, the same as Cologne? What is Hong Kong called now that it is part of China?
There's no question that philosophical and practical concerns both affect the production and use of an atlas. But in these evaluations I have focused primarily on the practical, straying into more ethereal realms only when I felt it necessary.
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CHILDREN'S ATLASES
Early Elementary
Grades Pre-K to Two
First Atlas.
Rand McNally. 20p. 101/892131/89. 1994. $9.95. ISBN 052883679X.
This is a brief, simple atlas, with no index. It has a partial key to map symbols, and the introduction provides limited information about maps. First Atlas offers more information than similar titles in one area: its U.S. map names all states and their capitals. On the other hand, it leaves out many small countries. The atlas also contains at least one major error, calling the U.S. Capitol building the "Capital." This title is not appropriate for reference use but is acceptable for browsing with young children.
My First Atlas.
Dorling Kindersley. 45p. 101/892131/89. 1994. $14.95. ISBN 1564586243.
As with most DK titles, this is an attractive, if cluttered, mix of maps, drawings, and small photos. The index, glossary, map key, and information about maps make My First Atlas slightly better than Rand McNally's First Atlas. Unfortunately, the DK title is marred by sloppy editing. For instance, readers are asked to locate the Congo River on the map of Africa, but the Congo River is not labeled. This title would serve for browsing, but the minimal amount of information and lack of a locator index make it inappropriate for reference use with even young children.
Picture Reference Atlas.
World Book. 48p. 91/292133/89. 1996. $13.95. ISBN 0716617455.
This is the best of the atlases for early elementary grades. In a very simplified, limited form, the Picture Reference Atlas has the most important element of a reference atlas after the maps themselves: an index that gives references to locator grids. The front sections explain maps, symbols, and how to find places using a grid. This atlas leaves out fewer countries than similar titles. It's the only atlas for early elementary children worth considering for reference use. Still, Picture Reference Atlas has a very limited amount of geographic information and should not be your only reference atlas, even if you work only with young children.
Elementary
Grades Two to Six
Around the World: Atlas of Maps & Pictures.
Rand McNally. 80p. 1092139. 1994 (Rev. 1997). $14.95. ISBN 0528836919.
This is an attractive browsing atlas with hand-painted maps that give the feel of an aerial view of the land below. Unfortunately, it suffers from the same oversimplification as most browsing atlases and is not suitable for reference use. Other problems are that portions of the maps near page gutters are hard to read, and the legend lacks sufficient detail. Though it was published in 1994, the revised version is up to date as of December 1997.
The Children's Atlas of People & Places.
Millbrook Press. 95p. 91/292139. 1993. $27.40 library edition. ISBN 1562942573.
Despite some nice photos, this is a mediocre browsing atlas that is also useless for reference.
Children's Illustrated Atlas.
World Book. 288p. 992129. 1997. $29.95. ISBN 0716640317.
The Children's Illustrated Atlas is more a general introduction to world geography than an atlas. It divides the world into 15 regions, each with very simplified political, physical, zoological, and other maps to accompany the text, photos, and drawings. Not only do the maps provide minimal detail, but several countries do not appear at all, nor do any of the U.S. states. The text also suffers from inaccuracies that crop up with oversimplification. Finally, there is no map index, only one for the text. This is a disappointing title that cannot serve as a reference atlas.
The Children's Illustrated World Atlas.
Courage Books/Running Press. 56p. 1092133/89. 1992,1993. $10.98. ISBN 1561383317.
These maps convey more detail and are easier to read than the ones in most children's atlases. This title is crippled, however, by its very small index. It is also dated, not fully incorporating the political changes of 1993. This is a title for browsing only--not reference.
Discovering Maps: A Children's World Atlas.
Hammond. 82p. 81/292119. 1998. $11.95. ISBN 0843734140.
This is primarily a textbook introduction to maps. The very limited detail and small index preclude consideration as a reference atlas.
Facts on File Children's Atlas.
Facts on File. 96p. 95/892115/89. 1997. $18.95. ISBN 0816037132.
This title is marred by errors both in the index and the text. These are especially apparent when the atlas addresses complex and controversial issues in a simplistic way--poverty and Third World aid, for instance. There is just too little detail and information in the maps and index, and too much space is given over to photos (some very beautiful), postage stamps, and fact boxes.
The Kingfisher Reference Atlas: An A-Z Guide to Countries of the World.
Kingfisher. 215p. 101/49281/49. 1993. $19.95. pap. ISBN 1856975304.
This title and the National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our World are the only children's atlases to even consider for reference use. Kingfisher offers more detail and statistical information, but these advantages are outweighed by several drawbacks. The country maps are very small, typically only 59259. Also, since almost all the maps show only one country and are all about the same size, the scale varies tremendously. While the Kingfisher has enough information to be useful and an adequate index, it should not be your only choice as an elementary school reference atlas.
National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our World.
National Geographic. Rev. Ed. 276p. 103/492103/49. 1993. $25. ISBN 0870449605.
The National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our World is the first choice among children's atlases both for browsing and reference. Its virtues range from the superb front matter--which explains plate tectonics, latitude and longitude, map projections--to the beautiful photographs and informative, engaging text. Drawbacks include some dated information on South Africa, a weak section on U.S. states (National Geographic must assume that you'll purchase its companion U.S. volume for that information), and skimpy detail in the maps and in the index, which has only about 4,000 entries. Though admirable, this should not be your only reference atlas, even in elementary school libraries and children's rooms.
The Young People's Atlas of the World.
Copper Beech. 40p. 83/492129. 1997. $22.40 school/library binding. ISBN 0761305637.
This moderately attractive title would serve at best for browsing and reading. The index is not complete, even considering the limited information in the maps. The maps are neither accurate nor detailed enough, and there are numerous inaccuracies due to oversimplification. This title is worthless for reference.
GENERAL ATLASES (UNDER $50)
Elementary Through High School
Citation World Atlas.
Hammond. 368p. 83/492103/49. 1996. $19.95. pap. ISBN 0843712953.
The Hammond Citation has a unique format. Most of the maps portray individual countries or states along with small topographical and economic maps, brief fact tables, the country flag, and a map index--all on the same or adjacent pages. There is no comprehensive index. While Hammond intends this "to make the retrieval of information as simple and quick as possible," it is telling that none of the company's large reference atlases are arranged this way. While the political maps of the states contain a lot of detail, overall this title lacks both the depth of content and ease of access essential to a reference atlas.
Concise Atlas of the World.
National Geographic. 90p. 1292181/49. 1997. $25. pap. ISBN 0792271203.
This title provides a limited sampling of the beautiful maps in the more comprehensive National Geographic Atlas of the World. The Concise Atlas is printed on the same heavy paper stock and at the same size as the larger atlas, but in a paperback binding. While this seems a remarkable bargain at first, the atlas's binding makes it difficult to see map details that run across page gutters. It also raises questions of how well a large-format, softcover book can stand up to reference use. This title is worth considering if you want to supplement your collection with a few large maps but can't afford one of the large atlases. But it's not a good choice for reference use.
Concise Atlas of the World
4th edition.Oxford. 360p. 121/29293/89. 1997. $39.95. ISBN 019521370X.
Based on Oxford's larger Atlas of the World, this title has two separate series of maps, each with its own index, as well as four consecutive series of page numbers. The format can be confusing and makes Oxford's Concise Atlas harder to use than Goode's. But Oxford is certainly comparable in terms of depth of coverage. There's a good introductory section on projections and scales, and the thematic maps and charts have a fresher look than Goode's--this makes the maps more dramatic, but harder to read. Oxford also makes more liberal use of shaded relief for a similar effect. The large Oxford reference maps have more detail than Goode's, but Goode's counters this by providing many inset maps on areas of interest. Overall, the Oxford is a worthy atlas that, for reference use, ranks slightly below the Goode's.
Desk Reference Atlas
2nD Edition. Oxford. 176p. 61/29291/29. 1997. $18.95. ISBN 0195213718.
The Oxford Desk Reference Atlas is distinguished from the larger Oxford titles in that it does not use relief shading (see "Scouting Expedition," p. 42). But it shares the others' use of relatively deep colors for the hypsometric and bathymetric tints. The thematic maps in the front section are very small--most of the space around them is taken up by text, charts, graphs, and photos. Despite its smaller index, the Desk Reference contains more useful geographic information than the other small-format atlas, the DK Concise World Atlas. If you want or need a small atlas, this is the best choice. Otherwise, you're better off with a full-size atlas.
DK Concise World Atlas.
DK. 250p. 69281/29. 1997. $19.95. ISBN 0789410621.
Handy and attractive, this is a much better design than the larger Dorling Kindersley World Reference Atlas. But the small size of both the index and maps limits its depth and scope, making it inappropriate for reference use.
The Dorling Kindersley World Reference Atlas.
DK. 731p. 892101/49. 1996. $49.95. ISBN 0789410850.
This is a substantial collection of geographical information, supported with small but serviceable maps and a 20,000-entry index. Though this volume and the Oxford Encyclopedic World Atlas are packed with textual and graphic information, they're still relatively weak as reference atlases. The maps lack the detail, size, and depth of comparably priced atlases, and the other content can't match the depth and quality of information found in the best encyclopedias or sets such as the Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. This volume is worth considering, but not as a true reference atlas. One difference between the DK and the Oxford is that DK relies more heavily than Oxford on graphic elements to convey information, while Oxford relies on text.
Encyclopedic World Atlas 4th Edition.
Oxford. 273p. 121/29293/89. 1997. $45. ISBN 0195213696.
Like DK's World Reference Atlas, this is in some ways less an atlas than a single-volume encyclopedia of social, political, physical, and economic geography, accompanied by maps. While it can't match the depth of a multi-volume reference set or the best encyclopedia, its price and currency make it worth considering as an additional purchase. The Oxford has more detailed maps and historical information than the DK. It conveys most of its content not through graphic devices, but in a single continuous article for each country.
Explorer Atlas of the World.
Hammond. 120p. 93/892121/49. 1997. $15.95. ISBN 0843711949. $10.95 pap. ISBN 0843711868.
A good, economical choice for home and student use, the Hammond Explorer Atlas of the World contains insufficient depth of information or indexing for reference use.Funk & Wagnalls World Atlas.
Funk & Wagnalls. 192p. 85/892111/89. 1996. $9.99. ISBN 0834301040.
This atlas is worth considering for student use, but it's inadequate for reference.
Goode's World Atlas
19th Edition.Rand McNally. 372p. 91/892111/49. 1995. $34.95. ISBN 0528839985.
Goode's packs an impressive amount of information into a relatively small, sturdy package. It has many features found only in the best reference atlases: gutter breaks; latitude and longitude in the index; detailed information on projections and scale; combined shaded relief and hypsometric/bathymetric tints (see "Scouting Expedition: What to Look for in a Reference Atlas," p. 42); and numerous metro-politan and thematic maps. Its main drawback is that the finest details and smallest place names can be faint and hard to read. But Goode's is distinguished by superb front matter--some of the best explanatory material on scale, projections, and cartography found in any atlas, regardless of size or cost. In fact, the quality of the thematic maps alone make this title worth considering for any reference collection--even one that includes large reference atlases. Overall, Goode's is the best deal available in an atlas today and the first choice for a basic reference atlas for any elementary school library or children's room. (Note: Though this is the latest edition, the publisher says that next year's atlas will be totally revised.)
Hammond New Century World Atlas.
Hammond.184p. 1092133/89. 1996. $29.95. ISBN 0843711965.
The Hammond is attractive, interesting, and easy to use. It is mildly disappointing when compared to Oxford's Concise Atlas of the World or Goode's World Atlas. Despite the large index, there are gaps in coverage--for example, no maps of northern, western or southern Australia. Also, it's often hard to read across the page gutters. Though an excellent atlas for the price, it's not the first choice in this category.
Rand McNally Premier World Atlas.
Rand McNally. 248p. 95/892125/89. 1997. $24.95 ISBN 0528838938.
While at first glance very attractive, this atlas disappoints on closer examination. In place of the informative thematic maps and explanatory material found in the front of most atlases, the Rand McNally offers a poorly presented "17-page photographic essay" that purports to survey the world's continents and peoples at the rate of two pages per continent. Regional maps have very limited detail. They also suffer from odd editorial choices--for instance, the only point of interest in Africa is Cecil Rhodes's Tomb. The Rand McNally does have relatively detailed state and provincial maps, but they are flat and ugly. The indexing, moreover, is sloppy. This title is not worth serious consideration for reference.
Reader's Digest Bartholomew Illustrated Atlas of the World
Third Revised Edition.Reader's Digest. 184p. 91/892121/29. 1997. $24. ISBN 0895779374.
This atlas draws on the same basic cartography as the Times Atlas of the World Second Family Edition. The only real difference is that the Reader's Digest has fewer maps--meaning slightly less depth of coverage--and a darker palette in coloring the hypsometric and bathymetric tints. The Reader's Digest also lacks the beautiful, detailed metro and city maps found in the Times. Nor does it have explanatory material on projections and scales. This title ranks behind the Times Family Edition, Goode's, and the Oxford.
The Times Atlas of the World
Second Family Edition. Times Books.143p. 93/492133/89. 1997. $39.95. ISBN 0812929497.
This contains a lot of the content found in the larger, more expensive Times Atlas of the World (Concise Edition, Seventh Edition), including beautiful, detailed city maps and a striking series of physical maps that look like images of the globe. The main drawback is that the spreads are cluttered with fact boxes. Furthermore, the two-page spread of geographic comparisons, handled with great clarity in the larger Times atlases, is confusing here. Still, this atlas is on the same level as the Oxford Concise Atlas of the World and the Goode's, with some variations. For instance, the Times has more details on the U.S. and Canada and less coverage of cultural sites than the others. In other areas, the Times thematic maps do not provide the same level of detail as Goode's, and the Times doesn't give latitude and longitude in the index.
GENERAL ATLASES (OVER $50)
Upper Elementary Through High School
Atlas of the World
5th edition.Oxford. 288p. 113/892143/89. 1997. $75. ISBN 0195213688.
An impressive amount of information is packed into this atlas, and at only half the price of the excellent New International Atlas. The Oxford's reference maps contain even more detail than its 75,000-entry index implies, since many features labeled on the maps are not indexed. Of course, this omission is a major flaw if you're looking for these features. Still, the maps offer detailed elevation information, thanks to the use of both relief shading and colored contour layers. Unfortunately, this density makes some of the smaller place names difficult to read. Like the National Geographic, the Oxford uses a wide range of scales, with no attempt to standardize scales from map to map, something several other atlases do. But the basic design and layout of reference maps is consistent, with the scale, scale bar, height reference panel, and locator diagram always on the plate, easy to find and use. The Oxford also offers much additional information in the form of text, charts, graphs, and thematic maps.
Cosmopolitan World Atlas Revised 1996 Edition.
Rand McNally. 304p. 111/292159. 1995. $70. ISBN 0528838091.
The Cosmopolitan claims to be "the only atlas in its class to include individual maps of U.S. states and Canadian provinces." That may be true, but the distinction comes at a price. While the Cosmopolitan's coverage of the U.S. is among the best, its coverage of other parts of the world is uneven. Coverage of metropolitan areas, even in the U.S. and Canada, is also weak. The Cosmopolitan's maps are clear, uncluttered, and easy to read, but once again, there's a price. Roads and other transportation details are minimal, and no relief coloring is used to indicate ocean depths or land elevation. The index has limitations, as well. Relatively small, it is not always a reliable or accurate guide to the maps. Unless your first priority is maps of the states and provinces, the Cosmopolitan is not a first-choice reference atlas.
The DK World Atlas.
DK. 338p. 107/892145/89. 1997. $60. ISBN 0789419742.
One lesson from the DK World Atlas is that the further an atlas goes beyond the basics of maps and indexes, the less likely it is to be a useful reference atlas. Another lesson is to maintain a healthy skepticism toward publishers' claims about their products. The DK describes itself as "a new standard in cartographic excellence." It is tricked out with the publisher's usual panoply of photos, diagrams, fact boxes, charts, graphs, and bits of text that presume to sum up an entire region's culture and history. Not only do these accoutrements clutter up the map pages, they are by turns oversimplified, sloppily written or edited, inaccurate, and dated. And while the country borders are largely up to date, the index is not. Overall, this work is superficial. It combines an attempt to provide encyclopedic geographic information with a lack of attention to detail. Given its many limitations and defects, this atlas is unsuitable for any library use.
Hammond Atlas of the World Second Edition.
Hammond. 312p. 1192141/49. 1998. $69.95. ISBN 0843711728. With CD-ROM: $85. ISBN 08437110701.
Overall, the Hammond is a strikingly beautiful atlas. The design is fresh and the organization clear. The Hammond has greater success than Oxford's Atlas of the World and the Macmillan at combining shaded relief with hypsometric tints (see "Scouting Expedition," p. 42). But the clarity and beauty of the Hammond maps comes at a price. The atlas provides fewer details for roads and transportation networks than some of its competitors, and its two-page spreads are not separated at page gutters, which makes parts of some maps hard to read. The index is large (110,000 entries) and detailed but fails to provide latitude and longitude for its entries. More troubling is the number of errors and omissions. For instance, Mecca and its variant spelling, "Makkah," are missing from the index, although both appear on the reference map. Though Hammond uses a limited number of scales, these still vary as appropriate to the area covered. Despite its flaws, this is among the first choices for a moderately priced reference atlas.
The Macmillan World Atlas.
Macmillan. 440p. 101/292131/89. 1996. $59.95 ISBN 0028608127. With CD-ROM: $74.99. ISBN 1575950219.
The Macmillan takes a purist approach to the challenge of scale by maintaining identical scales across all reference maps. How you feel about this approach depends on your preferences, but it does have some clear consequences. For instance, a consistent scale allows for more detail of uninhabited or sparsely populated areas. On the other hand, it provides less room for detail of densely populated areas. The editors have partially remedied this problem with an additional series of maps at a larger scale--but only for the U.S. and southern Canada. And even these provide less detail than similar maps in most other atlases. The well-designed index uses icons to help identify entries, but it doesn't provide latitude and longitude. True to its claim, the Macmillan provides more transportation and route information than most general reference atlases. But it does so in a way that seriously clutters some maps. Besides championing cartographic equality, the Macmillan is purist in another way: it offers almost no content beyond the maps and index. This is not a first-choice atlas, but the reasonable price makes it worth consideration as an additional purchase.
The World Book Atlas.
World Book.192p. 111/892159. 1997. $109. ISBN 0716626993.
This is a shorter, weaker version of the Cosmopolitan World Atlas. World Book has all the drawbacks of the Cosmopolitan without the benefit of the latter's maps of U.S. states and Canadian provinces. That wouldn't be so bad if the price were reasonable. But World Book asks $109 for significantly less than Rand McNally offers for $70. This is not so much a bad atlas as a bad deal.
This article is continued.
Read Part II of this article.
