-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Inquiry from government documents librarian about
classification systems used for USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:16:43 -0500
From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
<[log in to unmask]>
References: <[log in to unmask]>
When I started here at PSU in 1995 the first major cataloging project I
got involved in, besides the ongoing recon project, was to organize and
catalog our 7.5-minute topo collection in tandem with the new map
librarian at the time, Melissa Lamont. Together we decided on cataloging
all PA sheets (882 of them) at the sheet level, for all other states we
created a record for the state and then only itemized the sheets by name
and year (in a now-defunct Serials subsystem of a former in-house
non-ILS system). And, we maintain the entire 7.5-minute topographic map
series at PSU, keeping all editions of each published sheet (though not
dups except within PA). This is all described in an article that Melissa
and I co-authored, "Bending the Rules: Creatively Adapting Library
Systems to Automate the Map Collection", published in vol. 15, no. 3
(1998) of /Technical Services Quarterly/. At the time this was pretty
"out there" but we did provide our patrons online access to each sheet
for PA which was really important. (now, many if not most states have
access to the individual topo sheets within their own state, searching
on OCLC's Worldcat gets you a lot!). And, we shelve our sheets first by
state, then alphabetically by sheet name. Reaching way back into distant
memory, and I might be wrong, I think UGA classed their collection under
the U.S. as a whole, or G3700.
David's got a good point though, this particular series/collection has
long had excellent indexes for folks to use to find a given sheet, so if
things boil down to chosing to do a major cataloging project for the
7.5-minute topos versus focusing on other areas of a collection with
equal need, it might be best to allow the indexes to do the work and
catalog other materials first.
Paige
At 08:36 AM 2/5/2010, you wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Inquiry from government documents librarian about
> classification systems used for USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps
> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:09:58 -0500
> From: David J. Bertuca <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
> <[log in to unmask]>
> References: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> One of the joys of the USGS 7.5 minute topo series is that the indexes ARE
> better than a catalog. It would be a lot of work to create individual
> records for these, much less to add SuDoc numbers (LC would be complete
> overkill).
>
> If those indexes did not exist, then one of us in the map cataloging world
> might think about developing an index (I have some small selected indexes
> like this for in-house use).
>
> That is why I guard the indexes as well as I can.
>
> Having said this, here at UB we did create individual records for NY
> and PA
> topos (only a handful are created records on OCLC). The maps are still
> filed alphabetically, but it was decided here that their higher use would
> be helped by having more access points than just the state name.
>
> The rest of the states have a base record, then on these all state maps
> have their barcodes added (for circ use).
>
> I have been asked to consult on this with a few map collections, and I
> suggest always that cataloging time is better spent on the items that do
> not have indexes or easy modes of access.
>
> It seems to me that I was in a collection many years ago where they
> did put
> a SuDoc number on them but I still cannot figure out why anyone would want
> to. (I don't remember the collection, it was many years ago--back in the
> pre-online stage (card catalogs)).
>
> David J. Bertuca, Map Librarian
> 225 Capen Hall
> University at Buffalo
> Buffalo, NY 14260-1672
>
> 716-645-1332
> 716-645-3710 (fax)
> [log in to unmask]
>
> --On Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:44 AM -0600 Angie Cope <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: Inquiry from government documents librarian about
>> classification systems used for USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps
>> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:40:27 -0500
>> From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
>> <[log in to unmask]>
>> References: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>> Thomas (and Valerie),
>>
>> My bet is that you will find relatively few places classifying, and
>> particularly filing, their 7.5-minute topo sheets using SuDocs, but
>> I'll be curious to find out. I personally cannot think of a map
>> collection I've visited that didn't file the sheets alphabetically by
>> sheet name under a G-class number either for the U.S. as a whole or
>> subdivided by state.
>>
>> Paige
>>
>> At 12:24 PM 2/4/2010, you wrote:
>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>> Subject: Inquiry from government documents librarian about
>>> classification systems used for USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps
>>> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:49:57 -0600
>>> From: Lindsey, Thomas K <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am trying to find the names of larger size libraries that are
>>> cataloging and filing U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute series topographic maps
>>> using the Superintendent of Documents classification system. This
>>> system has advantages, but there are also disadvantages and problems.
>>>
>>> I would like to find other libraries using the Supt. of Docs.
>>> number so that I can learn how they help people make use of their
>>> collection.
>>>
>>>
>>> Cordially yours, Thomas Lindsey
>>>
>>> P.S. for Valerie Glenn (formerly of UNT): The Fort Worth Public
>>> Library is dropping its depository status. It is working with Texas
>>> Tech and the University of North Texas to transfer as many documents
>>> as possible.
>>
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