Why do it:

• Most issues have a geographic component.
• A huge amount of information available.
• Many diverse sources.
• Intense competition to provide new tools.

Imagery Options

• Maps only.
• Satellite or aerial photo imagery.
• Hybrid.
• Three-D elevation and tilt.
• Create and save your own maps or points.
• Hacks and mashups
  

Browser Based and Mashups

• Google maps http://maps.google.com
  • Sample Map: Shippensburg Rails to Trails
• Yahoo maps http://maps.yahoo.com
• Microsoft Local Live http://local.live.com/
• Google maps vs. Yahoo http://www.sergeychernyshev.com/maps.html (compare image sources)
• Embed your own maps. This is a tool that lets you embed Google My Maps on a blog or other web site http://www.dr2ooo.com/tools/maps/. An example of a map I made with this tool is here: http://pine-needles.blogspot.com/2007/05/creating-maps.html (added May 28, 2007)
  
• useamap.com lets you create a map location with a simple link address. When you click on the link you then have the option of viewing the map in Google, Yahoo, or MS Live. With new features you can also add pictures and other annotations. Here is a map I made for Peaks Island, Maine: http://useamap.com/peaks. Here is another for the Penn State Mont Alto campus: http://useamap.com/MontAlto  (added May 28, 2007)
• http://www.panoramio.com Panoramio organizes your photos for display over Google Earth or Google Maps. You create your own account, which can be shared. Some of the photos are added as a general layer in Google Earth. 

Local Computer Based

• Google Earth http://earth.google.com/
  • Download the program.
  • Install and run.
  • Streams to desktop.
  • Needs high-speed connection.
• Can save and share files: my trip to Guinea
• Many data layers and features available.
  

Fun Stuff

• Geotagging photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/p_linehan/map
• Flash earth http://www.flashearth.com/
• Map of the trips to Africa by Beth Brantley, Peter Linehan, and George Siehl for the Library Travel Series.

Getting your own Google account

Go to this page: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount and follow the instructions.
You will need an existing email, which will become your account name, to verify your account.
If you already have a Gmail account your should be all set and not have to go through this process.