In the spirit of #blogjune, I’m trying my darnedest to write a post every day this month, so the thoughts below about what I’d like to have in the way of mapping options for my library are more than a little dashed off. The service that would provide us detailed floor maps I’d like would:

• be relatively inexpensive (I’ll explain why in a later post)
• make the maps for us
• let us use their online tools to update maps as often as like and in a manner that doesn’t require great technical expertise
• let us embed map widgets in our website instead of making content live solely on the vendor’s domain
• connect to the service to our physical holdings in our discovery layer to enable users to go from records to clear maps/directions to the shelf location
• be as usable in mobile displays as in larger ones
• allow for maps to be reconfigured for printing in a manner suitable to their use on signs, posters, flyers, etc.
• offer QR codes for potential use with each version of a map we might need to generate (online or print)
• make it easy to convert the perspective of a map (change the angle or go to an overhead view)
• connect up with any room booking or event reservation service
• offer options for those who rely on screen readers, Braille,

In a post I’ll work on later this week (maybe tomorrow), I’ll try explain why I’m not so sure it’s worth spending a fortune, though, for a mapping service.