-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        cataloging facsimiles of early maps
Date:   Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:46:33 -0500
From:   Joel Kovarsky <[log in to unmask]>
To:     Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>

I am trying to get a sense of various library policies regarding
cataloging facsimiles of 15th-18th century maps. This is not a question
as to the cataloging method, but rather what criteria go into a decision
to put this into an electronic (online) catalog at all. For very large,
major repositories, it would seem that these would simply take up space
without providing any major value. I see some facsimiles cataloged in
WorldCat, but wonder about a policy of just keeping the electronic
record at a local level.  There are obviously several issues involved
(and likely any number of others I haven't mentioned):

   1. It could spare handling of an original.
   2. If one doesn't have the original, at least you have something.
   3. If it is a poor facsimile, i.e. likely not a true facsimile at
   all, then why bother? In this situation, the facsimile might be
   worse than nothing. (Would also considering that one would seriously
   prefer  facsimiles with good source details for the original.)
   4. If the original map is already available online via a major
   database with a maneuverable image, why bother cataloging the
   facsimile at a local level?
   5. It takes up space needed for other materials.
   6. Given some ambivalence in this process, if one were to go ahead,
   should the electronic record be held at the local level, and not
   loaded into WorldCat (if not there already)?

Pardon my ignorance in this, but I have been asked to make some
decisions regarding a group of facsimile maps (that I have not yet fully
evaluated). I have some existing bias here, but would like to hear a bit
more diversity of opinion from this group.

           Joel Kovarsky