Cartographic Materials: Cataloguing Standards and Rules

Cartographic Materials and Cataloguing Standards

To excel in your examination, present this information using precise library science terminology, structured for immediate clarity.

1. Kinds of Cartographic Material

Under AACR2 and RDA, cartographic materials represent the Earth or celestial bodies at any scale. Major categories include:

• Maps (Single Sheets or Thematic): Flat representations of an area (e.g., Survey of India 1:50,000 series, thematic population maps).
• Atlases: Volumes of maps bound in book format (e.g., Oxford School Atlas).
• Globes: Three-dimensional spherical models of the Earth or sky.
• Charts: Specialized maps for navigation (e.g., nautical or aeronautical charts).
• Plans and Sections: Large-scale drawings for architectural or engineering use (e.g., cadastral plans).
• Three-Dimensional Models: Physical terrain representations (e.g., relief models).
• Digital/Electronic Materials: Computerized spatial data (e.g., GIS shapefiles, raster datasets).

2. Core Cataloguing Rules (AACR2, RDA & MARC 21)

Maps are treated as a distinct class of non-book materials, focusing heavily on mathematical data and geographic access.

I. Title and Statement of Responsibility (MARC 245)

• Title Proper: Transcribed exactly from the map face. If absent, supply a title in square brackets based on the geographic area.
• Statement of Responsibility: Includes cartographers, engravers, compilers, or corporate bodies (e.g., Survey of India).

II. Mathematical Data Area (MARC 255 & 034)

This is the most critical area for map cataloguing:

1. Scale: Expressed as a representative fraction (e.g., 1:50,000).
2. Projection: Stated if provided on the item (e.g., Mercator, Lambert conformal conic).
3. Coordinates: Bounding box (longitude/latitude) should be recorded.

Note: Field 255 is for eye-readable text; field 034 contains coded data for systems.

III. Physical Description (MARC 300)

• Extent: Specific designation (e.g., 1 map, 1 atlas).
• Physical Details: Indicate color (col.) or illustrations.
• Dimensions: Height × width in centimeters, measured within the neat lines. Include folded dimensions if applicable.

IV. Publication and Distribution (MARC 260/264)

Record place, publisher, and date. Note that the date of situation (survey date) is often more significant than the printing date.

V. Specific Notes Area (MARC 5XX)

• 500: General notes (e.g., source of title).
• 507: Scale variance elaborations.
• 522: Detailed geographic coverage boundaries.
• 500: Physical housing (e.g., "Mounted on linen").

VI. Subject Access Points (MARC 651 & 650)

• Geographic Headings (651): Primary access point (e.g., 651 #0 $a Ranchi (India) $x Maps).
• Topical Headings (650): Used for thematic maps (e.g., 650 #0 $a Geology $z India $z Jharkhand $x Maps).

VII. Classification

• Library of Congress (LCC): Assigned to Class G (Geography, Atlas, Map section).
• Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC): Assigned to 910–919 (Geography) combined with area table notations.