--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 11:32:42 -0600
From: Emily Troxell Jaycox <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: cataloging query/recon <fwd>
Sender: Emily Troxell Jaycox <[log in to unmask]>



I think the answer is "it depends."  For my institution (a historical
society), in-house cataloging is the most desirable.  Our two catalogers each
do a weekly shift at the reference desk and are well aware of what our public
is looking for, as well as how a specific map fits in with our larger
collection.  They catalog in all formats (not just maps) in our geographically
defined library collection, and often take advantage of the opportunity to add
information of local interest to cataloging records.
Another thing that has helped us a great deal is our idiosyncratic arrangement
system. All of our maps of St. Louis are filed together, in order by date. The
same is true for other geographical designations which we have defined
according to the interest of our users (state of Missouri, Mississippi River,
Louisiana Territory, etc.) On more than one occasion, we have been able to
ascertain that one map is related to another, or help to identify a mystery
map, because of the maps shelved nearest to it. If we sent maps out for
cataloging, this advantage would be lost.
However, we differ from a university or public library map collection in that
our patrons have little or no expectation of currency of information. People
don't expect us to make the most up to date maps available as quickly as
possible.  This give us, perhaps not leisure, but freedom from certain
pressures which permit us to attack our map backlog and recon projects
intermittently, in batches. We can plan around student interns, tie-ins with
other institutional priorities (such as exhibits) when more resources may be
available to address the issue.  If I were a full time map librarian in a
distinct map library where people needed the new stuff yesterday, I would need
a different plan.

Emily Troxell Jaycox, Librarian
Missouri Historical Society
P.O. Box 11940
St. Louis, MO 63112-0040
314/746-4508
[log in to unmask]

Johnnie Sutherland wrote:

> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:53:11 -0400 (AST)
> From: James Boxall <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: cataloging query/recon
> Sender: James Boxall <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Happy "...insert favourite holiday here...."
>
> I've seen the Penn State Map Cataloging web pages (useful!), and i've made
> some preliminary calls to friends in the know......but i am in need of
> some advice and/or opinions.......(you can choose if you want to post to
> the list or to me directly)
>
> i'll be real brief:
>
> should map cataloging be done in or by the map library/collection?
> (yes...i've seen/read/re-read the cat&class quaterly issue from 1999
> edited by Larsgaard and Andrew which has survey results)
>
> you can twist the question/answers any way you like (for example, include
> in the definition of "map" digital geographic information.....or you
> could even raise issue like "how much about maps does a person have to
> know to do original cat?" assuming copy cat requires less map
> knowledge?....or, add in how much consultation should be done between cat
> dept and map lib?)
>
> :-)
> (told ya i'd be brief...which is a first for me)
>
> cheers
> james
>
> ps...also, any and all advice or stories/experiences about recon would be
> great to get.......don't ya just love the easy questions :-)
>
> James Boxall
> Curator/Head
> Map and Geospatial Information Collection
> Killam Library
> Dalhousie University
> Halifax, Nova Scotia
> Canada   B3H 4H8
> 902-494-3757 (tel)
> 902-494-2062 (fax)
> [log in to unmask]
> magic.library.dal.ca
>
> Immediate Past-President, Association of Canadian
> Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA)     www.acmla.org
> --- End Forwarded Message ---
--- End Forwarded Message ---