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Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005
From: Jenny Marie Johnson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Records to Pieces Ratio

Hi.

This probably is one of those questions that can't be answered --
although for some reason I vaguely remember reading or hearing a
discussion about it.

Is there any kind of ratio that can be expected for the number of
bibliographic records to the number of pieces in a "typical," fully
cataloged map collection?  Is there any way of saying "Since we have
x,000 pieces we can expect to find y,000 map records in the online catalog?"

I'm not expecting there to be a truly scientific ratio!  Commonsense,
wisdom from the ages, or folklore/urban myth -- all ideas will be helpful!

Thanks!

Jenny Marie Johnson
Map and Geography Librarian and
Assoc. Professor of Library Administration

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign