Render amenity=mobile_library

[b-unicycling]

Not sure if this is the place to ask this, but I would like to see mobile libraries rendered. I'm thinking of adding quite a few in Ireland, maybe even as a mapping event, but it would be more of an enticement, if people (especially newbies) could actually see the result, but of course it would be good to have them rendered in general.

I've tried to create an icon for it, but if someone is able to do better please go ahead - it's a book with wheels. icon

Expected behavior

Show locations of mobile libraries.

Actual behavior

Not rendered.

[HolgerJeromin]

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:amenity%3Dmobile_library
We have right now 644 Elements for this feature in the database.

[imagico]

Thanks for the suggestion.

amenity=mobile_library has 644 uses, 470 of these in Germany.

If we'd show this it would have to be a symbol that clearly indicates the mobile nature so the map user can clearly see that this is not a constantly available amenity.

[b-unicycling]

I tried to indicate the mobility with the wheels, but I'm not a graphic designer.

They are a bit tricky to map because of their mobile nature, I presume. You have to be lucky to spot the van or get a dataset from your local authorities, I suppose.

[imagico]

They are a bit tricky to map because of their mobile nature, I presume.

This is not really an issue for us here - in fact this is a good case example for non-physical verifiability. A mapper with local knowledge can reliably verify the existence of these features even without any kind of permanent signage or by using (non-verifiable) published schedules. It is a classic case of non-manifested geographic information.

The problem for us is (a) developing a suitable symbol that does not mislead map users to expect a permanent amenity and (b) the - so far - rather limited use of the tag by mappers in most of the world (which is probably partly due to difficulty of practical mapping on the ground).

[b-unicycling]

How about this:

icon on wiki

[HolgerJeromin]

You have to be lucky to spot the van or get a dataset from your local authorities, I suppose.

Sometimes there are permanent signs:

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:2021-01-10_Halteplatz_Buchbus_Stadtbibliothek_Hannover_Gorch-Fock-Stra%C3%9Fe_Ecke_Ganghoferstra%C3%9Fe_%28List%29_%2810%29.jpg

[b-unicycling]

You have to be lucky to spot the van or get a dataset from your local authorities, I suppose.

Sometimes there are permanent signs:

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:2021-01-10_Halteplatz_Buchbus_Stadtbibliothek_Hannover_Gorch-Fock-Stra%C3%9Fe_Ecke_Ganghoferstra%C3%9Fe_%28List%29_%2810%29.jpg

Sure, that's Germany. In Ireland, there are plenty of bus stops that aren't even signed, so I physically have to take the bus several times to see where it habitually stops. But that's off-topic.

[b-unicycling]

You have to be lucky to spot the van or get a dataset from your local authorities, I suppose.

Sometimes there are permanent signs:

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:2021-01-10_Halteplatz_Buchbus_Stadtbibliothek_Hannover_Gorch-Fock-Stra%C3%9Fe_Ecke_Ganghoferstra%C3%9Fe_%28List%29_%2810%29.jpg

Sure, that's Germany. In Ireland, there are plenty of bus stops that aren't even signed, so I physically have to take the bus several times to see where it habitually stops. But that's off-topic.

[dch0ph]

There are increasing numbers of mobile services (banks, post offices) as rural facilities close. But frankly I don't think marking "where a van is likely to pull up once a week" is going to work on general-purpose map.

I think you would be best using uMap to create a bespoke map, with different types of library (or mobile services) highlighted.

[imagico]

How about this: icon on wiki

This goes in the right direction IMO - but it is too large for our use (or not readable at the size we use, that is 14x14 pixel).

Designing a suitable symbol for this is a difficult task and i am hesitant to suggest investing into that because it is not clear if we actually want to show this in the map at this time (point (b) in #4945 (comment)).

My suggestion would be to expand mapping of these things where they exist, especially in regions where they are not widely mapped so far, and expand documentation on how widespread these are and how these operate in different parts of the world. It would also be important to further develop mapping conventions for other types of similar regular but non-permanent mobile services. There is for example amenity=marketplace for places regularly used by mobile sellers, but this is not widely used for individual sellers and has no established tagging to specify the exact products or services offered. If there was, overall, a clearer framework for mapping these kind of mobile services that would support introducing rendering of some kind here and it would also help developing a suitable symbol design.