Congratulations to the University of Alberta and the William C. Wonders
Map Collection!
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: W. C. Wonders Map Collection Catalogue now online
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 12:36:18 -0600
From: Jones, David (Library) <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: CARTA-L : Canadian Map & GIS Libraries and Archives
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
*All records from the University of Alberta’s William C. Wonders Map
Collection <http://www.library.ualberta.ca/subject/maps/index.cfm>
binders now in database: http://maps.library.ualberta.ca/ *
On June 30^th 2006, eleven years after its inception, the project to
convert the manual catalogue records for the William C. Wonders Map
Collection to an on-line, web-browsable database has been completed.
In 1995 when the University of Alberta Libraries took over
responsibility for the William C. Wonders Map Collection it acquired a
rich and massive collection of maps and other cartographic materials.
It was quickly recognized that the value of this collection was impaired
by the limited bibliographic access to its contents. The collection was
indexed only in a handwritten classified catalogue housed in 26 3-ring
binders. The brief records in this catalogue did not meet standards
required for incorporation into the library’s online catalogue.
Up-grading or re-cataloguing the records would be too labour-intensive.
Instead it was decided to provide improved access to the maps through
the conversion of the hand-written catalogue to a key-word searchable
database. Also, currently acquired pre 1995 maps would also be added to
the this databases while items from 1995 onwards would receive full
cataloguing and be entered into the Library’s online catalogue.
Under the leadership of Marianne Jamieson and Kathy Elkow the project
began, criteria and procedures developed, and the records marked up and
transcribed into a MaRC format database. Initially a DRA database was
used but when the Library Catalogue migrated to SIRSI a new database was
developed (by Jeremy Hennig) to house the map records. Although this
sounds straightforward, as with most map-related processes, there were
many exceptions and anomalies, corrections, additions, conflicting
records to be resolved, etc. Countries and other jurisdictions had
changed names, many maps were not uniquely identified by call number,
and some records could not be directly transcribed without checking the
actual item. Individual records were entered for monographic maps and
serial records for large sets and series. All the maps now have
understandable call numbers.
While the ‘Binders’ project is now complete the database continues to
grow as more pre-1995 items are added. To date the database contains
over 31,000 records representing over 450,000 map sheets. This database
has become a valuable tool not only for U of A scholars, but also for
map users worldwide who access it through the Internet.
In her report on the completion of the project, Kathy Elkow, project
manager, notes:
The project began in June of 1995 under Marianne Jamieson. I estimate
that if we worked seven hours a day, 5 days a week, it probably took
about 2 1/2 years for a person to complete the database. Stamping and
labeling the maps added considerably more to the total time commitment.
A BIG THANKS to everyone who helped. To Jeremy Henning in ITS who set up
the database and still continues to help us tweak it to fit our
criteria. To those who helped in the inputting: Karen, Cliff, Anke
(before other duties called them away), Dan Duda who worked on inputting
cities and towns, Jasbir, Rosario and Joan who were able to stick it out
to the end. To Joan who not only helped in the inputting of records, but
also helped and is still currently helping to clean up the database. To
all circulation staff and casual staff who helped with the labeling and
numbering of the maps. To Bonnie G., who oversaw the map labeling and
especially helped me with problems and decision making on the map
series. Finally, a special thanks to Vaughn Munro who shouldered the
brunt of my endless questions on the maps in BARD and Karen and Fred who
helped so that I could enter the BARD map records with some sort of
accuracy. My apologies if I have forgotten anyone. Once again, THANK YOU
ONE AND ALL.
David L. Jones, Map Librarian
William C. Wonders Map Collection
Science & Technology Library
1-26 Cameron Library
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J8
voice (780)492-3433 fax (780)492-2721
e-mail [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
http://www.library.ualberta.ca/subject/maps/index.cfm
ca
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