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Subject: Re: MAPS-L: General Material Descriptor (GMD)
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
From: Mary Larsgaard <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Organization: UCSB Map & Imagery Lab, Library
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>


Reason for LC not using the GMD:
This is an informal comment from me, and
only catalogers from LC would know if
it's correct or not.
What I heard years ago was that the
reason LC didn't use the GMD was
solely for internal-software (online catalog)
reasons. If that is correct, then it
makes no sense at all for OCLC
to state that since LC doesn't use
the GMD, then the rest of us shouldn't either.
It also seems to me that the only
"enforcement" that OCLC should
be doing is that the MARC format fields
are used; after all, the fixed fields let you
designate what cataloging rules you're
using.

As an aside, I always use the GMD
in all CM records where the word "map"
or whatever doesn't appear in the title.



Angie Cope, AGSL wrote:

> ================================================
> MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
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>
> Subject: Re: MAPS-L: General Material Descriptor (GMD)
> Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
> From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> Miriam,
>
> Must be the change of weather or something, maybe a new "Fall ailment" or
> something, since cataloging questions are popping up left and right!
> Couldn't resist answering to this because I, and my map cataloging team
> members here at PSU, also think it very appropriate to use the GMD for
> maps, it is helpful to our patrons! Especially in a display list of items
> with a similar or the same title, i.e., a title list where most
> everything
> is "United States" or at least begins with "United States" and has one or
> two other words following at most. Well, the bottom line is anyone can
> add/use the GMD to or in their local records if they so choose. The
> sticking point is this: LC chose NOT to use the GMD many years ago, and
> since that is LC practice then OCLC has made it a "rule" that when
> creating
> original records to go on WorldCat we are not allowed to use the GMD for
> maps "cartographic material" (however, if its appropriate to use
> "electronic resource" for an item that is cataloged as a cartographic
> item
> and is in an electronic format, this is acceptable). So, I agree with
> your
> cataloging department's query about "why not?" use the GMD on a personal
> level. But, I do follow OCLC's request on a professional level.
>
> The comment about "I can understand not wanting to use it on atlases
> (many
> of which I don't think should be cataloged as maps at all), because
> they're
> very book-like" struck a chord though. Physically-speaking atlases
> look and
> feel like books -- but the container is not the important part of the
> item
> is it? Therefore, geographic atlases (not atlases of the body, of
> particular animals, etc.) are maps indeed, maps that happen to be
> collected
> and bound into a cover of some sort most of the time (though not
> always!).
> It is the content, in this case a group of sheet maps brought together
> along with text and maybe some other illustrations and maybe some charts
> too, that one needs to focus on cataloging, and thus it makes perfect
> sense
> that geographic atlases should be cataloged as "maps" and not as "books."
> I, for one, was very pleased to see the change in policy when we all went
> through format integration back in the late 1990s.
>
> Finally, as you begin full-scale cataloging of your maps keep me in
> mind as
> a resource, and I'm sure other maps catalogers/librarians out there like
> Susan Moore, David Bertuca, Mary Larsgaard, and others feel the same. Of
> course, keep using MAPS-L as a great resource too!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Paige
>
> At 01:24 PM 9/29/2005, you wrote:
>
>> ================================================
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>>
>>
>> Subject: General Material Descriptor (GMD)
>> Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
>> From: Miriam Glanz <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Our University is getting ready to do full-scale cataloging records and
>> the cataloging department fired the question below off to me that I
>> thought I would pass on to the list for comment. Any comments and or
>> insight would be appreciated!
>>
>>
>>
>> Why would a library make the decision to NOT use a GMD (general material
>> descriptor) for maps?  It seems to me it would be helpful to patrons to
>> see "cartographic material" just as they do "electronic resource" or
>> "microform" (et al.) when confronted by a long list of titles. Yet the
>> GMD is optional, and LC has opted NOT to add it to any cartographic
>> material.  I can understand not wanting to use it on atlases (many of
>> which I don't think should be cataloged as maps at all), because they're
>> very book-like.  Sheet maps, though, seem to be a different animal
>> altogether and I think should have the GMD added.
>>
>>
>>
>> Miriam Glanz
>>
>> Arizona State University Library Map Collection
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>


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