GIS professionals around the world implement Esri's software with boundless creativity and innovation, and each year a new edition of the Esri Map Book highlights a sampling of this terrific work. Images and map descriptions from the most recent map book, Volume 16, Geography--Creating Communities, are now online at www.esri.com/mapbook.

Since 1984, the book has annually recognized outstanding GIS accomplishments in varied disciplines such as agriculture, conservation, disaster management, geology, health care, telecommunications, and transportation. Volume 16 reproduces in full color 118 of the best digital maps created in 2000. It covers more than 20 subject areas that feature maps used for modeling and analysis, automating processes, communication, and planning and decision making.

These maps were originally displayed at the Map Gallery during Esri's 20th Annual User Conference or were presented at regional, international, and industry-specific Esri user conferences. These maps, along with any individual submissions, were then reviewed by the Map Book production team and Jack Dangermond, president of Esri.

Altogether, nearly 1,000 maps are considered for the book. Even though all of the maps cannot be included in the map book, they are all preserved for posterity. Some are mounted and displayed throughout the buildings on Esri's campus, and the rest are sent to the U.S. Library of Congress where they are part of the library's permanent collection that documents the history of GIS.

If you have a map that you would like to submit for consideration for a map book, contact Nancy Sappington (e-mail: nsappington@esri.com).

You can purchase copies of the Esri Map Book, priced at $19.95, at bookstores or through the Esri Press Web site www.esri.com/esripress. You'll also find selections from Volume 15, Applications of Geographic Information Systems online at www.esri.com/mapbook.