================================================ MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ** MAPS-L ================================================ Subject: Re: MAPS-L: General Material Descriptor (GMD) Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 From: Colleen Cahill <[log in to unmask]> To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]> I have done a bit of research and have only a partial answer. As you note, GMD's are optional in AACR2 and the LC Rule Interpretations give a very specific list of what gets a GMD. Cartographic materials are not on that list. So by these rules, LC does not put GMDs in cartographic materials. Now for the sticky part: why we don't do this. At this point, I am afraid I don't know the history and am tracking that down. If I can find a clear answer, I will share it with you. What I can say is LC does not expect anyone else to follow their policy on this decision: no GMD for cartographic materials is in the LCRI's and not required of anyone else. 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 > 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 > > > > > > -- > --