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MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
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Subject: Re: MAPS-L: geographic code indexing
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005
From: Colleen Cahill <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>

Ken,
   The 052 field is used in the Geography & Map Division of the Library
of Congress rather than the 043 (Geographic Area Code) primarily because
the latter does not go below the state/province in its detail.  The 052
allows for coding to whatever level is supported by the geographic
subject headings used in a record, even a city sub-section.

   That said, there are very few systems that index this, probably
because it requires a knowledge of the LC G class schedule, which most
users don't have available. In LC's Voyager implementation, there is no
left match index, but you can use a keyword search (K052).

Colleen
  Colleen R. Cahill                   |  [log in to unmask]
  Digital Production Coordinator      |  (202)707-8540
   & Recommending Officer for         |  FAX (202)707-8531
        Science Fiction & Fantasy     |  Library of Congress
These opinions are mine, Mine, Mine! |  Washington, DC 20540-4652



>
> Hello, colleagues.
>
> I have a question for a group of you among the map catalogers who use the
> LC Classification schedule G for maps and atlases.  Specifically, anyone
> whose catalog has an index for the MARC 052, Geographic Classification.
>
> I would welcome any information on how this index functions, what type of
> index it is.  I can describe to my colleagues what this number represents,
> and how it might be derived.  I can convey a sense of its potential value
> for a searchable index of the catalog, as it can be more precise and
> concise to convey a geographical area covered by a map, and can
> distinguish between a general and a thematic map of the same major area.
> But I am at a loss to give any of the technical information about how this
> would actually be indexed.
>
> Ken
> ___________________________
> Ken Grabach                           <[log in to unmask]>
> Maps Librarian                         Phone: 513-529-1726
> Miami University Libraries
> Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA
>
> --
>




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