-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: Map cataloguing questions
Date:   Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:09:58 -0700
From:   Osborn, Teri <[log in to unmask]>
To:     <[log in to unmask]>



Hi April –

I catalogued the atlases at the American Antiquarian Society, and we
used the 655 genre headings there. I didn’t make it to sheet maps, but
had I gotten to them, I would have applied 655s to them as well.

Teri Osborn

Rare Book and Map Cataloguer

University of Alberta

Bruce Peel Special Collections Library

780-492-7720

"A word after a word

after a word is power." -- Margaret Atwood

Subject: Two map cataloging questions

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:38:48 -0500

From: April Carlucci <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

Organization: Yale Univ Library

To: 'Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum' <[log in to unmask]>

Hello fellow map catalogers,

I’d like to ask two questions about map cataloging which grow out of
discussions we are having at Yale.

First, are people generally using the 007 field, and, if so, can the
data be usefully searched in your automated catalog/OPAC? Examples would
be helpful.

Second, for map collections with large numbers of antiquarian materials,
the form subdivision $vEarly works to 1800 used with Library of Congress
subject headings is not especially helpful, and becomes less helpful the
more early maps you have in your catalog. I imagine the subdivision grew
out of an earlier situation at LC when items dated before 1800 were
rarities and thus worthy of note, and that the subdivision is used with
all categories of materials, not just maps. I know that at my previous
workplace, the British Library Map Library, the subdivision was
considered pretty useless (given how many items dated before 1800 we

had) and we didn’t bother with it much! But even in relatively small
collections, “Early works to 1800” is not as useful as the old UKMARC
practice of putting the actual date in the $y subfield. At Yale, we are
thinking about working around this by using 655 genre headings for maps
and related materials, where we can include an actual date. We would
still have a 651 geographic name heading in order to show the area (and
650 for subject when appropriate) and use the “Early works to 1800”

subdivision so that our records are correct and can be used by other
libraries. Are there any thoughts about the use of “Early works to
1800”? And is anyone else using genre headings for maps?

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts and comments. If either of these
questions generates interest, perhaps the MAGERT Cataloging Committee
will consider them in Philadelphia.

Season’s greetings to everyone.

April

April Carlucci

Catalog Librarian for Maps

Yale University Library