27 March 2008

Ordnance Survey digital data system goes live in the Legal Deposit Libraries

The UK Legal Deposit Libraries have unveiled a new way of viewing large scale mapping, following the signing of an important agreement with Ordnance Survey.

The agreement ensures the libraries will continue to hold annual snapshots of detailed digital mapping of the whole of Great Britain.

The libraries collectively hold comprehensive archives of Ordnance Survey mapping dating back over two centuries. This was originally received in paper form and then microfilm, but in 1998 the shift was made towards purely digital data. Since 2006 this had meant receiving an OS MasterMap snapshot of Great Britain every year. 

This entire archive of digital mapping, from 1998–2007, can now be explored and compared through a user-friendly viewer. This web-based program has been developed by the software company Dotted Eyes, using ResponseMX and over 1.5 terabytes of mapping data loaded using their InterpOSe and TranspOSe tools.

OS MasterMap is highly detailed, allowing precise recording of landscape change over time. It can be viewed in all of the six UK Legal Deposit Libraries, and a limited number of customised A4‑sized colour printouts of any area can be made for private, non-commercial use.

Further information can be found at:

British Library 

National Library of Scotland

OS MasterMap 

Notes to editors:

1. There are six Legal Deposit Libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland: the Bodleian Library, Oxford; the British Library, London; Cambridge University Library; the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh; the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth; and The Library of Trinity College Dublin.
2. The Legal Deposit Libraries are entitled in terms of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 to request a copy of all printed items published in the United Kingdom, and in the Republic of Ireland by reciprocal legislation. This Act continues the basic provisions for print publications established earlier by the Copyright Act 1911, Section 15. Through this legislation, as well as through acquisition and donation, the Libraries have built up comprehensive collections, including Ordnance Survey mapping.
3. The new Ordnance Survey Map Viewer, developed by Dotted Eyes, (www.dottedeyes.com/ukldl) incorporates ResponseMX (www.dottedeyes.com/web-mapping) for deploying Rich Internet Mapping. It allows secure Extranet access to a central hub server hosted by Dotted Eyes, with viewing strictly controlled through authentication in each Library.
4. The A4-sized printouts for private, non-commercial use are permitted by the exceptions noted in the Copyright Act. The libraries’ viewer is not a substitute for Ordnance Survey’s legitimate commercial partner services, and the libraries charge a fee to cover costs of these printouts.
5. Dotted Eyes is a registered trademark and InterpOSe, ResponseMX and TranspOSe are trademarks of Dotted Eyes Ltd.

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Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295