Core/ MAGIRT Cartographic Resources Cataloging Interest Group

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Discusses the basic issues relating to bibliographic control of maps and related materials. Discusses rules and standards covering such cataloging, as well as application of the rules and principles both in general and in response to specific problems, and various practicing options.


This group is part of Core's Metadata & Collections Section.

Report on Interest Group meeting at ALA Annual 2011, New Orleans

  • 1.  Report on Interest Group meeting at ALA Annual 2011, New Orleans

    Posted Jul 08, 2011 11:08 AM

    MAGERT/CCS Cartographic Resources Cataloging Interest Group
    ALA Annual, New Orleans, LA
    Sunday, June 26, 2011

    Report by Louise Ratliff
    About 23 people attended the Interest Group meeting at ALA Annual in New Orleans.

    Announcement by Richard Huffine, director of the USGS Library Program. [Editor Note: After the conference, I asked Richard to summarize his announcement, included here.]

    “The U.S. Geological Survey's National Geospatial Program has almost completed their efforts to digitize and georeference all of the topographic maps the Bureau has produced since the beginning of their mapping program in 1885. The total number of maps is estimated at around 200,000 and it includes all scales, all editions of their topographic map series. In addition to releasing the digitized maps, the Bureau has produced metadata records for each map in the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standard. The FGDC records can be converted to MARC bibliographic records using MARCEdit and other readily available tools. These digitized editions of historic topographic quadrangle maps are being distributed to the public via the USGS Store (store.usgs.gov) Map Locator and Downloader Tool. All digital distribution of maps from the USGS are free to the public. In addition to these historic maps, the USGS is producing new 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles in new digital formats that include an aerial photography layer. These new maps are called "US Topos" that the USGS has developed a three-year cycle for producing these new maps for the entire conterminous United States. US Topos also have an FGDC record that can be used to create a bibliographic record for library catalogs. “

    He asked about what level of bibliographic records people wanted, and a brief discussion followed of how best to catalog these in order to provide access but not unduly clutter the catalog. Separate records would number 200,000 records!  Some people mentioned they should be serial cartographic records.  A copy of each digitized map is stored at LC , and the USGS Library Program is considering putting copies of the digital resources into the Hathi Trust.

    The Provider-Neutral record for cartographic resources on the web

    Susan Moore explained that a “provider-neutral” record is a single bibliographic record that is used for all the instances of an online monographic cartographic resource.  Such resources in the past have been cataloged variously as reproductions or electronic editions.  The URL in the record is a generic one; a 500 note can be added for significant local information, and a $5 subfield is added to it with the institution code.

    The standard for the Provider-Neutral record for cartographic resources on the web will be posted to the PCC BIBCO web site as soon as it is approved.  It has been developed by Susan Moore and a small group of cartographic catalogers.

    The Library of Congress Genre-Form Terms for cartographic resources

    Jay Weitz of OCLC reported that Robert Bremer is developing a macro with which to convert old form subdivisions in LCSH to $v Maps where appropriate, and to construct a “655 -7 $a [Term]. $2 lcgft” for the genre-form term if it is not already present in the record.  The group recommended that if there is a 655 _0 field containing a genre-form term, it should be converted to a “655 -7 $a [Term]. $2 lcgft” ONLY IF it has a matching term in the lcgft authority file. The group recommended that OCLC convert these 655 fields even while lcgft authority records are still being added to the authority file, and not wait until the authority file is complete to convert them.  You may email your comments to jay_weitz@oclc.org or robert_bremer@oclc.org .

    OCLC announcements: In the new version of Connexion, the 029 fields will be shown at the bottom of the display. There will be a global search limit by which to limit by “language of cataloging;” links to the RDA toolkit; new authority control functionality (greatly improved). In August, all NACO participants who have regular level enhance capabilities will be enabled to enhance PCC records.  Last, OCLC is drafting a discussion paper about mixed cataloging practices and records in WorldCat; they hope it will generate wide discussion, but in the meantime, continue to follow current guidelines.

    RDA and cartographic resources

    Tammy Wong from LC said she will start creating some RDA records for cartographic materials, but most LC catalogers will use AACR2.

    Mary Laarsgard is authoring a book with Paige Andrew about RDA and cartographic resources. In it she has made a list of differences between AACR2 and RDA, based on Chris Oliver’s book.  Any major differences that are not included on her list would be very welcome.  Comments may be posted on the ALA Connect site at: MAGERT Cartographic Resources and RDA  http://connect.ala.org/node/111605

    Another RDA comment: the list of possible relationships for creators is quite long, and the relationship of a given creator to an expression is not always easy to discern.  Do users really want to know all the relationships that a creator has with a given expression? Consensus was that if it is obvious, we should add the code to the authorized access point.  If not, it is still up to cataloger’s judgment because it is optional.  Comment: if practices are mixed among bibliographic records, it can cause confusion for users.

    Work and Expression titles will have to be created now when there is more than one manifestation, and we have never done that before.  How do we find out about other manifestations?  How much time will we spend looking for them?