Haiti: Selected materials from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center

A bold graphic in the Johnson Lobby that displays the flag of Haiti and a cartouche from a 1725 map of the island announces an exhibition organized by the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center. There are seven maps of Haiti in the cases that include two historic maps from the 1700's of Hispaniola, as it was once called, the island that Columbus discovered in 1492. The other maps are contemporary and two of them show the tectonic plates that caused the January 12 earthquake. There is a C.I.A. map from Government Documents that includes data about modern-day Haiti and another contemporary map from the Boston Redevelopment Authority that shows where Haitian residents live in the city.

Boston Public Library
Copley Square
700 Boylston St.
Johnson Building
Deferrari Hall
Until Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Exhibit information

Cool + Collected: Treasures of the BPL

A year-long Boston Public Library exhibition celebrates over 160 years of collecting by featuring some of the most beautiful, rare, and unexpected holdings from the BPL's rich special collections. This exhibition provides an unprecedented opportunity for visitors to explore an impressive selection of fine prints, maps, manuscripts, rare books, photographs, paintings, architectural drawings, posters, musical scores, and more.

See MacClure & Co.'s Imperial Federation, map of the world showing the extent of the British Empire in 1886, the most popular online item in the collection of the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center.

Boston Public Library
Copley Square
700 Boylston Street
Johnson Lobby
Until Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Exhibit information

Historical Maps of Boston at the Langham Hotel

A selection of historical maps of New England, Massachusetts, and Boston, describing the topographical transformation of the city over 300 years from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library are on display at this hotel.

Langham Hotel
250 Franklin Street
Boston, MA.

Maps of the New England Coast at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Maps from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library depicting the exploration, mapping, and maritime activity along the coastline of New England are on exhibit at this hotel.

Boston Harbor Hotel
70 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA.

Summer Institute for Teachers with the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance

Maps and their Stories : Spatial Thinking and Teaching
A Teacher Summer Institute
Massachusetts Geographic Alliance + The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library
June 28-July 2

A 5-day intensive professional development program for teachers to be held at Boston Public Library and at Bridgewater State College. The primary goal of this institute is to train a corps of teachers in the critical skills needed when interpreting maps both ancient and modern. Participants will be guided in exploring the social forces underlying maps throughout the ages. The purpose is to reflect on maps not merely as paper or computer images, but as social and historical documents that enliven our understanding of the world.

Maps and Their Stories Summer Institute Information

Summer Institute for Teachers at Lesley University

Map Explorations: Charting Paths to Geographic Literacy
A Summer Institute for Teachers
Lesley University + The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library
July 26-30, 2010
Institute Website

As part of this hands-on, week-long Summer Institute at Lesley University, participants will build geographic literacy, promote interdisciplinary learning, and identify ways to integrate maps into their classroom curriculum to help achieve local and national education standards. With the guidance of an interdisciplinary team of faculty, participants will engage with a variety of maps and activities, learn basic geographic concepts and skills, and apply their knowledge and experiences to their own specific teaching goals. The Institute is a new and exciting partnership between Lesley University and the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library, leveraging the diverse resources of both institutions to provide participants with a rich and rewarding learning opportunity.

Lesley University Summer Institute Brochure