[Genealib] Maps

[Lyles, John]

"Have you done this with your maps?"

In the process of creating online finding aids using ARCHON for our collections, maps included. Collections will be described down to the folder or item level depending on circumstance. ARCHON also features a marc output that can be loaded into the local catalogue. As for or maps we have a electronic & print finding aid that describes our maps down to the item and this will be added to our database. 

An example that we have done that is similar is the Abe Feder Collection, a collection of hundreds of architectural drawings of Broadway musicals. No one used the collection for over 20 years. Why? My guess is because the collection was trapped in our ILS. Who would have thought to look in Columbus, Georgia, then our institution, then our ILS for this collection? Once the online finding aid was created we received 10-20 queries a month for the collection. 

I say don't get locked in the ILS or do not force your patron to find your ILS to find your holdings. Get out to where the patrons/customers are looking for the information and if that means something other than MARC then do something other than MARC. I am an advocate of preservation, creating intellectual and physical control, add you library jargon for metadata collection here... but if we are acting without one of our primary goals being to provide the greatest possible access to our resources then we need to look at what we are doing. 

John


-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu]On Behalf Of Mary K.
Mannix
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:27 PM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: Re: [Genealib] Maps


John, Have you done this with your maps?  Mary M.



-- 
Mary K. Mannix
Maryland Room Manager
C. Burr Artz Public Library
Frederick County Public Libraries
Frederick, MD
and
Chair, ALA\RUSA\History Section
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