To Lis-maps cataloguers:
As you'll see from the Maps-L message below it has been decided at the
recent MARBI** meeting to add lat/long coordinates to authority records
in MARC. The map cataloguing community needs to discuss the format in
which the coordinates will appear, and the Library of Congress is asking
for comments. Please feel free to comment directly or via the list (I
will forward comments on to Colleen).
Thanks.
April Carlucci
British Library Map Collections
**Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information Committee (MARBI) is the
body within the American Library Association responsible for developing
official ALA positions on standards for the representation in
machine-readable form of bibliographic information. MARBI focuses its
attention on the development of the MARC format.
-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope, AGSL
Sent: 30 June 2006 15:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MAPS-L] MAPS-L: MARBI! The proposal passed
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: The proposal passed MARBI!
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:47:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Colleen Cahill <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
Apologies for cross posting.
The proposal to add coordinates to authority records
<http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2006/2006-06.html> passed and in the next
year or so, this will be available in the MARC format for authorities.
Thanks to all who worked on this, especially Jimmie Lundgren of the
University of Florida and Rebecca Guenther of the Library of Congress,
who put a great deal of effort in forming this proposal.
Good job!
We now face some choices, primarly in what format we want the
coordinates to appear in authority records. This can be either degrees,
minutes, seconds or decimal degrees: both have advantages and
disadvantages. Here are a few I have thought of and am hoping for your
input:
Degrees, minutes, seconds format
Pro:
-Format most often printed on maps
-Familiar to most people
-Easy to quality review
-Format most often used in bib records
Con:
-Not format used by GIS search engines
Decimal Degrees
Pro:
-Format used by GIS search engines
-Can harvest data from GIS tools
Con:
-Not as easy to quality review
-Not as familiar a format to the average person
The reason we need to have this discussion is LC will allow coordinates
in the authority file, but only in one format. By presenting
well-thought-out reasons for a desired format, we can persuade LC to use
the most logical choice. This is also a good time to think about any
standards or recommendations, such as what is acceptable data (i.e., is
just degrees enough data? How many numbers after the decimal in decimal
degrees?)
I am sure there are many more pros and cons to each of these formats.
If the cartographic community can come to a consensus about this topic,
it would speed the next step to this process, setting up a test to load
coordinates in the authority files. To facilitate this process, I will
keep track of the discussion and post compilations. Thank you for your
help.
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
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