Residents get their say with maps

[Cranbury Press]

CRANBURY: Residents get their say with maps
Thursday, March 26, 2009 12:58 PM EDT
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — By all accounts Cranbury is a picture-perfect community — only now residents can prove it to the world via the Cranbury Public Library’s newly sponsored site, www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/map.htm .

The Web site features a map that allows the public to add pictures and text to any points of interest, whether they be a business, a residence or a landmark, said Doug Baldwin, the library’s systems administrator.

”It’s a community project,” he said. “Anyone can contribute to it.”

Joining forces with the library, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society provided a spreadsheet of photos and information, cataloguing the different areas and eras of the township on the site, he said.

The Cranbury Camera Club also plans to take part in the project, documenting the more modern and artistic side of Cranbury through its members’ photos, Mr. Baldwin said.
”I’m really hoping that people get really creative and send whatever picture they like,” he said. “This is really about capturing different people’s perspective of the town.”

Mr. Baldwin said he expects that the site will appeal to a broad audience.

”As far as people who might be new to Cranbury, it could be a fun and interesting way to learn about Cranbury,” he said. “(Or) you can see what your house looked like 100 years ago.”

Another facet of the site would be to allow local business an alternative way to advertise, Mr. Baldwin said.

”It could be a way for them to self-promote,” he said.

So far the site, which was launched in August, has approximately 40 photos, but the library is expecting future growth as employees recruit perspective participants.

The Web site has been made multi-accessible, so that participants can log on and download their own comments or pictures through a file sharing site, sit through a short tutorial at the library or e-mail or bring in their photos to library employees, who would then upload them.

For more information on the process, e-mail Mr. Baldwin at baldwin@cranburypubliclibrary.org, call the library at 609-655-0555 or drop by at its 23 N. Main St. location.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/03/26/cranbury_press/news/doc49cbb400dd254635500998.txt