========================================================================
MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
=======================================================================
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005
From: "Maura O'Connor" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Records to Pieces Ratio
Message
Jenny
It largely depends on how you are cataloguing your collection.
At the NLA we aim to catalogue all the sheets in series, providing individual
records for those in the Australian series. Some series do not lend themselves
to this type of treatment however, so a collection level record only will
appear. For our overseas series we only do collection level records. I
would estimate about two-thirds of our collection are maps in series, so
I will leave you and/or others to work out the proportions on that one!
Yours sincerely
Maura O'Connor
Map Curator
National Library of Australia
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone : 61 2 6262 1280
Fax: 61 2 6161 1653
Email : [log in to unmask]
========================================================================
MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
=======================================================================
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005
From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Records to Pieces Ratio
Jenny,
As you know, I've been working in two major map collections over nearly
20 years, so I do have a "feel" in regards to your question, assuming
that both large map collections (Univ. of Georgia and Penn State) are
"typical" in scope and content. Please don't hold me to these numbers
as being anything near accurate and/or scientific, but I think its about
a 3 to 1 ratio of individual sheets/pieces to bibliographic records.
I'm interested in seeing other comments towards your question too.
Paige
p.s. Looking forward to seeing you in DC in May!
At 11:15 AM 4/8/2005, you wrote:
========================================================================
MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L
=======================================================================
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
--