-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Cataloging policy and practice for maps extracted from
atlases
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 11:42:13 -0400
From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Hello Harry!
My initial reaction is that I've seen enough maps
over time that have been removed from their
original source, whether historical or not, and
cataloged them as needed -- and because as you
noted on their own as individual maps they
provide great added intellectual value to a
collection. While it is admirable that your
institution's administrators are on the high
moral ground over this issue, if you have
received said maps removed from historical
atlases as gifts, as opposed to doing the
breaking yourself, do we not have an obligation
to make them known to our researchers for the
greater good? By hiding them in a map case and
not doing anything positive with them those
particular maps that have not been cataloged by
others will remain unknown and unused. There is
probably a large universe of bibliographically
uncontrolled maps "out there" that reside within
books, journals, atlases, and other items waiting
to be discovered and shared, why not take the
proactive step of cataloging those items that
come your way, and also if the information is
available, identify the source of the individual
map. I do not believe that the act of cataloging
or describing these maps implies that one is
condoning the practice of removing them from
their published source document. In fact, many
have argued that cataloging acts as a means to
assist in the process of re-connecting a given
stolen map with its home institution, one more
reason to allow for these materials to be
cataloged even though the means in which they
became "individualized" is a negative one.
Sincerely,
Paige
At 11:19 AM 5/16/2008, Maps-L Moderator wrote:
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: FW: Cataloging policy and practice for maps extracted from
>atlases
>Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 10:05:16 -0500
>From: Harry Davis <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>Advice needed!
>
>We have a number of map sheets that exist as items removed (not by us)
>from atlases, most especially pre-20^th -century atlases. Some of these
>maps are gifts, while some are past purchases.
>
>Cataloging administration at this library has expressed strong
>reluctance to provide any publicly-shared cataloging (via OCLC) for maps
>that have been extracted from historical atlases. The position is
>principled in the belief that breaking integral books (atlases in this
>case) is ethically and professionally unacceptable and that our
>institution should not condone such practice by agreeing to catalog
>extracted maps.
>
>What policy do other libraries observe for such situations?
>
>We have noted the prevalence of maps separated (historically) from
>atlases and the value of a record for individual maps once this is the
>fact of the situation that is, that we are not doing the breaking and
>that an extracted map retains intellectual value even if tainted by the
>removal. We are also mindful, of course, of the map theft for sale issues.
>
>I suppose a corollary question is one of whether gifts of extracted maps
>should be declined (and purchases not undertaken).
>
>What can others contribute to this discussion?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Harry Davis
>
>Map Librarian
>
>Liaison Librarian for Civil and Environmental Engineering,
>
>Geography and Environmental Resources, Geology,
>
>Maps, and Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering
>
>Morris Library
>
>Southern Illinois University Carbondale
>
>Carbondale, IL 62901-6632
>
>Phone: 618~453~2372
>
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