--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 14:14:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Geographic coordinates in MARC <fwd>
Sender: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>


My opinion as a maps cataloger has to do with my overall understanding of
descriptive cataloging and what it comprises.

Consider that a catalog record is a description of the item it represents.
If the coordinates appear in decimal format on the map, it would be better
to render them in that method in the MARC record, when MARC standard is
able to accomodate that system.

I am sure that digital mtaerials already have begun to reflect the decimal
usage.  I would like to see the standard be changed for those situations.

 However, up till now, all the maps I have cataloged, including those of
very recent publication date, still use base-60 (minutes -- seconds).  It
would mislead the user of the record, or searcher of the map, if the
record showed a different coordinate system than that used on the map
itself.

Not having seen very muchh in the way of decimal coordinates given, I want
to know how they look.

For a coordinate rendered as 76 degrees 30 minutes, would that become 76.5
degrees? (30 divided by 60.)  Would then 76 degrees 7 minutes 30 seconds
would become 76.125 degrees?

___________________________
Ken Grabach                           <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian                         Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA


On Fri, 20 Oct 2000, Johnnie Sutherland wrote:

> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 16:29:11 -0400
> From: Jimmie Lundgren <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Geographic coordinates in MARC
> Sender: Jimmie Lundgren <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Dear MAPS-L,
>         I am writing to ask the opinions of the MAPS-L community about the
> requirements for coding coordinates in degrees and minutes in MARC, while
> the FGCD requires it in decimal values. There seems to be a growing need for
> better functional interoperability between databases.
> Do you think this needs to be resolved?
> How should this best be resolved?
> What about polygons?
> If the option of coding the decimal values in MARC records were proposed and
> accepted, would you use it?
> If you did, would you prefer to enter it as an alternative when the
> information is presented in that way (as on a CD, for example), or should it
> be entered in both forms on the same records?
>         Thanks for any input,
> Jimmie
>
> Jimmie Lundgren, Science Cataloging Unit Head
> 300 Smathers Library, University of Florida
> Gainesville, FL 32611-2048
> [log in to unmask]
> phone: 352-392-0351
> fax: 352-392-4788
> --- End Forwarded Message ---
>

--- End Forwarded Message ---