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Greetings, Map Catalogers and other MARC users--
 
After checking the USMARC Bib Formats and OCLC Bib Formats, I am
curious as to the general practice for entering geographic
classification codes in the 052, especially in conjunction with the use
of the 072 subfield 2 lcg.
 
More specifically, I am thinking about the 052 for those items that
cover a general geographic area in addition to a subject area from
Table IV.  These items would have G classification numbers ending in 1
or 6.  Take, for example, an item classed in G7421.N3.  Would the 052
be 7420 or 7421?  (On a side note, the 072 would be N3).
 
My reason for asking this question pertains to indexing.  If your
system indexes the 052 and 072, what is the reason for entering
geographic classification codes ending in 0 or 5 AND 1 or 6.  Couldn't
you just use 0 or 5 in the 052 and forget 1 or 6? Perhaps I am being
shortsighted about this (which is why I am asking all of you for your
insight!), but it seems to me that the user who searches on the 052
would be presented with 2 groups of hits representing 1 geographic
area. Wouldn't it better serve the user to be presented with 1 group of
hits rather than 2?  In addition, what is the purpose of those hits
ending in 1 or 6? If the user is looking for items covering a
particular subject, the subject classification code (072) will allow
them to search on Table IV. In addition, if they know the geographic
area and the subject classification, they can search on the call number.
 
Thanks in advance for any insight you might have and please forgive me
if I am missing the obvious.
 
Regards,
Paula
 
Paula E. Moehle
Map/Media Cataloger
The University of Georgia Libraries
Athens, Georgia 30602-1641
706.542.0585
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