PLEASE REPLY TO THE LIST - we all need answers ...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Another genre/form question
Date:   Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:35:06 -0400
From:   McGee, Marc <[log in to unmask]>
To:     [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>



Dear MAPS-L,

I have a question related to the new policy of applying genre/form
headings for map records, specifically for antiquarian maps prior to 1800.

I'm wondering whether the genre/form heading "Early maps" is intended to
replace "|v Maps |v Early works to 1800."

As far as I can tell from the authority records, one should still apply
"|v Early works to 1800 |v Maps" to any 650 or 651 etc. fields as
appropriate.  "Early works to 1800" is not an authorized form/genre
heading.  It seems "Early maps" used to only be applied as a 650 topical
subject heading for books about early maps, however, now that it's its
own authorized form/genre heading (as of 12/2009) I suppose it could be
interpreted and applied differently.  The scope note for the Early maps
topical heading says "Here are entered collections of, and works on,
early maps in general. Individual early maps and atlases are entered
under the appropriate subject with subdivision |a Maps--Early works to
1800."  The genre/form heading authority does not give a scope and does
not explicitly assign a chronology to the term "Early maps".

My inclination is to continue to apply "|v Maps |v Early works to 1800"
and not use a 655 "Early maps"  for our antiquarian collection, however
I'd be interested in hearing how other libraries are handling this under
the new genre/heading policy.

Also, I was wondering if there was a definitive answer to Chris Winters'
previous question regarding the application of "655 Maps" to all map
records that do not have a "thematic" genre/form.  I checked the maps-l
archives and didn't see a final verdict.  After reviewing the initial
discussion paper http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/cartographic.pdf
(specifically "Chart 2" on page 4, which shows the Genre/form heading of
"Maps" is to be used for the current form subdivision "Maps") it looks
like the intention is to have at least one genre/form heading 655 on all
map records whether thematic or not.  I don't see any examples in the
documentation that illustrate this though.  Is this a correct
interpretation?

Thanks for any further insights,

Marc

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Marc McGee
Geospatial Resources Cataloger
Harvard College Library Technical Services
625 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

617-384-8406
617-384-7170 (FAX)

e-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Harvard Geospatial Library: http://hgl.harvard.edu <http://hgl.harvard.edu/>