-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: MAPS-L: Map description
Date:   Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:33:55 -0400
From:   Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
To:     Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>







Phyllis,

You pose a really interesting question: is there a publication
(preferably with illustrations actually showing the different types) of
the different physical types of maps, either in print or online, that
shows each type and its accompanying descriptive "label" or name?

The first thing that leaped into my mind is the glossary in
/Cartographic Materials: A Manual of Interpretation for AACR2, 2002
Revision/. Several terms are defined in the glossary relating to the
physical output/nature of types of maps, e.g., blueline print is
defined, as is Reverse blueline print, blueprint, diazo print,
manuscript, annotation etc. The problem here is you have terms but
nothing visual to mate them to. In my own book, /Cataloging Sheet Maps,
the Basics/ I don't go to this level either since I'm addressing folks
cataloging (describing in a bibliographic record) these maps generally
have a level of understanding of what the terminology is that is invoked
in the field for "physical description."

 From your brief description it sounds to me like what you have in front
of you to organize is a group of blueline prints, maybe some manuscript
maps, maybe a few reverse bluelines, and the rest just "maps" that are
either b&w or in color (cataloging standards define "color" as meaning
that a given item must have two or more colors used to produce the item;
if the map is created using all one color of ink, e.g., brown, blue, or
green, then is is not considered a colored map).

I'd be interested to learn from others if there's a visual resource or
guide that would help with your question. If not, maybe I can work with
you directly to identify a sample of each kind of map you are dealing
with somehow. Let me know.

Sincerely,

Paige Andrew
Maps Cataloging Librarian
Pennsylvania State University

At 08:58 AM 9/22/2006, A. Cope wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:        Map description
> Date:   Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:30:47 -0500
> From:   Phyllis Von Arb <[log in to unmask]>
> To:     [log in to unmask]
>
> Hi.  I'm an MLIS student doing Fieldwork in a Special Collection Center,
> and have been tasked with organizing a collection of mostly old maps of
> the area.  There are all kinds of maps, many acquired from the City
> Clerk's office and so forth.  I'm trying to figure out what are the
> appropriate terms to use to describe these different maps.  There's a
> little bit of everything, from old maps that appear to have been drawn
> in ink and reproduced somehow (a variety of techniques appear to have
> been used), to blueprints, to old road maps in color.  Without
> completing a doctorate just on this topic (!) is there any general
> guidance you can suggest that would help me to describe these things?
> Thank you!
>
> Phyllis Von Arb
> [log in to unmask]
> Davenport, Iowa