This profile is part of a series of interviews chronicling the experiences of researchers who use The New York Public Library's collections for the development of their work.

Dr. Parker is the Research Officer for Ruderman Antique Maps, where she manages a research archive of 60,000 map images and writes about the history of maps and mapping.

What brought you to the Library?

The Library has one of the best map collections in the United States, if not the world, including many singular items that can’t be viewed elsewhere. When I am in New York City, I come for the treasures, but also to use the superb reference collection.

 What's your favorite spot in the Library?

The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division is a beautiful and cozy, yet productive, room. It has big windows for the occasional day dream and wonderful maps on all the walls.

When did you first get the idea for your research project?

Every day is different with my job. I research a huge variety of map objects, from sixteenth-century nautical charts to twentieth-century fire insurance maps. Thankfully, the NYPL has collections and knowledgeable staff to support all of these subjects. In a past visit to the NYPL I was interested in early atlases, but this most recent visit I wanted to better understand the mapping of the Arctic in the mid-nineteenth century.

Describe your research routine

I like to camp out in the reading room and jump in with as many maps and books as the reading room will let me have at one time. If space is available, I like to array the materials around me, allowing for reference across sources as I write. I get very immersed and focused, which must look odd to the observers that come into the maps reading room to view the architecture. I prefer to come first thing in the morning, to give myself as much time as possible to understand the sources.

What’s the most unexpected item you encountered in your research?

One of the maps I was looking at this time turned out to be a previously unrecorded state of a map that I was researching. Maps are often issued in several states, each of which has subtle differences, so it was a delight to trace the minute updates and changes in this map as compared to the one in our digital research collection.

What's an essential item or tool you need when you're in research mode?

My glasses, as I’m legally blind and read too much.

Describe a moment when your research took an unexpected turn.

These moments happen daily. My specialization is the Pacific in the eighteenth century, but the maps I work on are seldom from that area of expertise. Every day is therefore a surprise.

How do you maintain your research momentum?

Reading new research is invigorating for me. Whenever I get burned out or confused, I return to really good emerging work by stellar colleagues.

What is the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently? 

That’s a tough one; I’ve been trying to understand how lithography works lately. I think I’ve almost got it.

Where is your favorite place to eat in the neighborhood?

I like to explore the restaurants in Koreatown.

After a day of working, what do you do to unwind?

My family lives in several time zones, so I like to give one of them a call to catch up. Also, crime drama.

What's your guilty pleasure distraction?

Non-academic podcasts, especially Thirst Aid Kit and Pop Culture Happy Hour. Also, popcorn.

What tabs are currently open on your computer?

The British Library catalog, the International Society for the History of the Map homepage, my email, Trello (a to-do list program), and raremaps.com (our website).

Is there anything you'd like to tell someone looking to get started?

Read widely and often, in your area of research and outside it.

Have we left anything out that you’d like to tell other researchers?

Take breaks and don’t forget to stretch.