Article: Google Turns to Users for Online Maps

SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is calling upon its millions of users to chart a new direction for its online maps.

As part of an initiative being launched Thursday, the Internet search leader will provide free tools designed to make it easy for people to share their knowledge about their neighborhoods and other favorite places by creating customized maps that can assemble information from a variety of sources.

The map creators will be given the option to make the content public or keep it private.

Thousands of hybrid maps, often called "mashups," are already available on the Web, documenting everything from local housing markets to active volcanos.

But cobbling together an online map ...

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