-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Map Inventory Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 17:41:11 +0000 From: Weessies, Kathleen <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> For the USGS topographic maps we used the brown booklets that index each of the states. Student employees wrote in the years we had for each quadrangle. I confess that I used a sampling method to count the sheets --- I counted the number of sheets we owned in a typical column in each of the brown booklets, then multiplied that by the number of columns in that booklet. Our topo sets have a bib record for each scale for each state -- we don't have sheet level records. I also had the student employees go through the drawers and count all the sheets in the non-topo drawers, then write the quantity on the outside of each paper folder (most of our maps are gathered into paper folders). Then we added those numbers up. The total count ended up several thousand off our working number. We've always counted new acquisitions each year and added it to the prior number, but I don't know the origin of the number we were using when I started my job. Don't forget to include folded maps stored separately, supplementary maps, and unprocessed maps. The only collection that we've inventoried piece by piece was the folded maps that came over to the main library when the geology library folded. There was a database of all items, but enough discrepancies were found that we conducted a piece-level inventory. In the nearish future I plan to do a piece-by-piece inventory of the rare/valuable collection. That will be a lot easier once they are all cataloged. I'll run a list of everything the catalog believes is located in our locked collection, sort it in call number order, and we'll print out the list (as compactly as possible) and put checkmarks next to items as we find them. I like having a physical artifact of the inventory. It can be annotated easily and we have evidence that an item was seen by actual human eyeballs at a point in time. Kathleen Weessies Geosciences Librarian Head, Map Library Coordinator, Collaborative Technology Labs Michigan State University Main Library 366 W. Circle Drive W308 East Lansing, MI 48824 [log in to unmask] Office phone 517-884-0849 -----Original Message----- From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope, American Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 12:52 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Map Inventory -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Map Inventory Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 12:33:14 -0400 (EDT) From: Paige G. Andrew <[log in to unmask]> To: Air Photo Maps, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship <[log in to unmask]> Welcome to the world of map librarianship Chelsea! You came to the right place to ask questions, learn from others, and teach us things too. Many of us are also members of a variety of map librarianship organizations (and many others on here are attached to similar professional orgs for cartography, geography, GIS, etc. too) and I'd recommend looking in to joining longstanding map librarianship organizations like the Western Association of Map Libraries (www.waml.org) and the Map and Geospatial Round Table (MAGIRT) of the American Library Association (http://www.ala.org/magirt/) as a means of expanding your knowledge in this arena. To your specific question: we at Penn State have been conducting a long-term inventory of our large collection for awhile. Since I am not a member of the map library but rather a cataloger in our Cataloging and Metadata Sercvices Department, I cannot share specifics about how our inventory is being conducted, but I most certainly WILL pass your note along to those "in the know" and ask that Heather or another staff member contact you directly with helpful information. Best I can do. Sincerely, Paige Andrew Maps Cataloging Librarian Penn State University p.s. how cold is it in Pullman now? I'll bet everyone there is getting ready for winter weather quick! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Angie Cope, American Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Friday, November 1, 2013 11:59:32 AM Subject: Map Inventory -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Map Inventory Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 15:52:47 +0000 From: Leachman, Chelsea M <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> I am a new librarian at my university and am taking over the map collection. From what I can tell there has not been an inventory of maps done in quite a while nor is there a record of the last one done. I am looking for advise, tips or tricks about completing a map inventory. I have staff members that can assist in the task but would like input from experienced map librarians. Thanks, Chelsea Leachman Science Librarian Washington State University (509) 335-8527 [log in to unmask] <https://connect.wsu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=csdtaJodtkCGrpupbdY01_AmVC5VZtAIi4sBM0lbQK9sT52JjULy5LxOMu6PqJaCBw3Agt6Ai2Q.&URL=mailto%3achelsea.leachman%40wsu.edu>