General Policies

Cartographic materials that receive original cataloging are cataloged according to the latest full national standard for descriptive cataloging. For materials published through 1900, the national standard is Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Cartographic) DCRM(C), in alignment with the BIBCO Standard Record (BSR). For materials published after 1900, the national standard is Resource Description and Access (RDA). Catalogers may use DCRM(C) for post-1900 materials following their judgement. General and RDA guidance below is excerpted from YL documentation; for fuller RDA examples and guidance, see https://yalelibrary.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CAY/pages/458785252.

For guidance on cataloging sheet maps, see Sheet Maps

For guidance on cataloging atlases, see Atlases

For guidance on cataloging composite atlases, see Composite Atlases

For guidance on cataloging manuscript or other unpublished cartographic materials, see https://yalelibrary.atlassian.net/wiki/x/G4DZK

Fixed Fields

Leader

06: Type of record. Use the value e (cartographic material).

07: Bibliographic level. Use the value m (monograph/item).

007

The following is the standard coding. Adjust as necessary for specific kinds of cartographic materials (e.g., maps printed on cloth or blueline printed atlases).

00: Category of Material. Use the value a (Map) for sheet maps and atlases; use the value d (Globe) for globes.

01: Specific Material Designation. Use the value j (Map) or d (Atlas)

03: Color. Use the value a if the item was issued uncolored; use the value c if the item was issued with color (do not use for copy-specific hand coloring)

04: Physical Medium. Use the value a (Paper)

05: Type of Reproduction. Use the value n (Not applicable)

06: Production/Reproduction Detail. Use the value z (Other)

07: Positive/Negative Aspect. Use the value n (Not applicable)

008

06: Type of date. Use the values s (single known date/probable date), e (detailed date), m (multiple dates), or q (questionable) as appropriate. See the Sheet Maps and Atlases pages for additional guidance on using m.

08-21: Relief. Code as applicable when type of relief is recorded in a note. Commonly used values are a (contours), d (hachures), e (bathymetry/soundings), g (spot heights), and i (pictorially).

22-23: Projection. Code as applicable when projection is recorded in the 255 field.

0XX Fields

034 (Coded Cartographic Mathematical Data)

This field contains coded cartographic mathematical data, including scale, projection, and/or coordinates in coded form and is based on information from the 255 field (Cartographic Mathematical Data). Always include the scale and the coordinates in both the 034 and 255 fields.

First indicator: Type of scale. Use the value 1 (single scale) when a representative fraction is present in the 255. Use the value 0 (Scale indeterminable/No scale recorded) when the 255 says Scale not given, Not drawn to scale, or Scales differ.

$a: Category of scale. Use the value a (Linear scale).

$b: Horizontal scale. Record the denominator of the scale given in the 255 field without spaces or commas. Omit if the 255 doesn’t include a representative fraction.

$c: Vertical scale. If vertical scale is given in the 255 field, record the denominator of the scale without spaces or commas.

$d, $e, $f, $g: Coordinates. Record the westernmost, easternmost, northernmost and southernmost coordinates in decimal degrees (ddd.dddddd). Preface coordinates with the minus sign (“-”) for W and S. To convert latitude and longitude from degrees/minutes/seconds to decimal degrees, use the following FCC site: https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal. Include $2 bound at the end when the coordinates are not present on the material and were derived from Bounding Box (link found in 255 guidance and Resources).

When using copy that has the 034 coordinates in degrees/minutes/seconds (hdddmmss; hemisphere-degrees-minutes-seconds), locally convert the 034 to decimal degrees.

040 (Cataloging Source)

DCRM(C) Guidance

In alignment with the BSR, code records in the 040 with both $e rda and $e dcrmc.

043 (Geographic Area Code)

Record MARC geographic codes based on the geographic subject headings (651) and geographic subdivisions of topical subject headings (650) in the record.

045 (Time Period of Content)

Use to record the material’s date(s) of situation if also recorded in a note or elsewhere in the description.

First indicator: Type of time period. Use the values 0 (single date/time), 1 (multiple single dates/times), or 2 (range of dates/times) as applicable.

$b: Formatted time period. Record dates in the form d[yyyymmdd]. (The 'd' at the beginning indicates C.E. dates.) Only include months and days if present on the material. Repeat $b for multiple dates or a date range.

DCRM(C) Guidance

Appendix L. Date of Situation
L2. Recording the date of situation. Follow the option to record date of situation in an 045 when present elsewhere in the record.

052 (Geographic Classification)

Always provide a geographic classification code which represents the geographic subject headings (651) and geographic subdivisions of topical subject headings (650) present in the record.

The geographic code can provide more precise geographic access than the codes contained in the 043 field.

Geographic classification codes are derived from the Library of Congress Classification-Class G. Use the LC classification code without the leading G. If the code has a period and subdivision, replace the period with $b. Distinct codes are recorded in separate 052s, while multiple subdivisions of the same code are recorded in separate $b in a single 052. LC classification codes can be found using ClassWeb or the LCC pdfs.

1XX Fields

100/110 (Main Entry)

Use the authorized access point for the person or corporate body with intellectual responsibility for the map and use the relationship designator “cartographer”.

2XX Fields

245 (Title and Statement of Responsibility)

$b: Other title information. When the title of a map does not indicate the geographic area depicted, supply other title information indicating the geographic area. Follow RDA 1.4 and supply information in the language of the title proper when practical; otherwise, supply information in English.

255 (Cartographic Mathematical Data)

This field contains mathematical data associated with cartographic material, including a statement of scale, statement of projection, and statement of bounding coordinates. Always record scale and coordinates when they are present or can be determined.

$a: Statement of scale. Record the scale as a representative fraction. If no scale information is given on the material, supply the scale when it can be determined. For further details on determining scale, see Appendix J of DCRM(C). If a representative fraction is derived from a verbal scale statement, include the verbal information after the representative fraction in the form “1 [unit] to [number] [unit]” (see RDA 7.25.5.3 for further guidance).

If the material also has vertical scale, record at the end of the scale statement following the structure “Scale [representative fraction]. Vertical scale [representative fraction]”

$b: Statement of projection. Record projection if present on material, even if it is included in a transcribed field.

$c: Statement of coordinates. Record coordinates in degrees, minutes, and seconds measured from the Greenwich prime meridian; precede each coordinate by W, E, N, or S, as appropriate. Separate the two sets of longitude and latitude by a diagonal slash, neither preceded nor followed by a space.

If coordinates are not present on the material, supply them using Bounding Box.

DCRM(C) Guidance

3B. Statement of scale.
3B1.2. Approximate scale; 3B1.4. Scale expressed graphically; 3B1.6. Scale inaccurate. In alignment with the BSR, spell out “approximately” instead of using “ca.”
3B1.3. Scale expressed in words. When converting scale to a representative fraction from a verbal scale statement, transcribe the scale statement in a note.
3B1.7. Scale not given. Follow the option to supply a scale statement when it can be determined. As above, spell out “approximately” instead of using “ca.” Make a note indicating how the scale was supplied.

3C. Statement of projection. In alignment with the BSR, spell out “projection” instead of using “proj.”

3D. Statement of coordinates and equinox.
3D1.1. Follow the option and always record coordinates.
3D2.8. Coordinates not given. Follow the option and supply coordinates when they can be determined. Indicate in a note that the coordinates are approximated.

264 (Publication, Distribution, Production, etc.)

$c: Date of Publication. Transcribe month and day along with the year when present.

DCRM(C) Guidance

4B12. Place of publication, distribution, production, etc. uncertain or unknown
4B.12.1; 4B12.2. Supply a place whenever possible.
4B12.4. In alignment with the BSR, use [Place of publication not identified] instead of [S.l.].
4C9. No supplied name of publisher, distributor, etc. In alignment with the BSR, use [publisher not identified] instead of [s.n.].

3XX Fields

300 (Physical Description)

$b: Other physical details. Only indicate the presence of hand coloring if there is evidence the material was issued colored. In case of doubt, assume hand coloring is copy-specific and indicate it in a local note rather than the 300.

5XX Fields

506 (Restriction on access)

Restriction on access

590 (Local Notes)

In general, note information within the 590 in the order given below.

Bibliographical variants (in combination with 500)

Imperfections

Copy number of limited edition

Uncut

Hand coloring: When in doubt as to whether the material was issued with hand coloring, assume the coloring is copy-specific and note it in the 590 rather than the 007 and 300.

DCRM(C) Guidance

5C5.2. Always make a local note indicating the presence of copy-specific hand-coloring.

Provenance

Binding information

Bound-with notes

In case with notes

Manuscript material in printed works

Material shelved separately

520 (Summary)

Nature and scope: Provide details about the coverage of the map not apparent from the title or useful as additional description.

500 (General Notes)

Bibliographical variants (sometimes in combination with 590)

Relief: Always note relief if present on a map. Examples of techniques for showing relief can be found in Appendix R of DCRM(C).

Scale: If the scale representative fraction in the 255 has been supplied, note how it was determined.

Coordinates: Indicate if the coordinates have been supplied.

510 (Citation/References Note)

See Cartographic Materials Bibliographies for those bibliographies most often cited.

6XX Fields

650/651 (Subject Headings)

Cartographic materials should use $v Maps with subject headings. The exception is bird’s-eye views, which use $v Aerial views.

Topical subject headings should be used as necessary to bring out non-geographic information present on materials. A few common types of maps and their related topical subjects are below.

Railroad maps:

Cadastral maps:

Nautical charts:

All cartographic records should include at least one geographic subject heading.

For pre-1800 material, add the subdivision $v Early works to 1800 to all subject headings.

655 (Genre/Form)

Always use at least one genre term. The default term is:

If a more specific term is applicable, use it instead of the default term. For example:

The following LCGFT terms are commonly used in SCTS. Additional narrower terms of Maps and Aerial views can be found in LC Genre/Form Terms.

Aerial views
Atlases [see Atlases for cataloging guidance]
Cadastral maps [use for plat maps]
Composite atlases [see Composite Atlases for cataloging guidance]
Fire insurance maps
Globes
Manuscript maps [see Manuscript Cartographic Materials for cataloging guidance]
Mappae mundi [use for early medieval world maps]
Military maps [use for maps designed particularly for military use]
Mine maps
Nautical charts
Pictorial maps
Portolan charts
Road maps
Stick charts
Strip maps
Thematic maps
Topographic maps
Tourist maps
Wall maps
World maps

7XX Fields

700/710 (Added Entry)

Generously make additional access points to bring out contributors such as surveyors, engravers, editors, printers, publishers, and issuing bodies.

Cartographic Cataloging Resources

A good on-line resource for cataloging cartographic material is the Map Cataloger’s Toolbox: WAML Map Librarian’s Toolbox

Online Bounding Box program for determining coordinates: Bounding Box Tool: Metadata Enrichment for Catalogue Records by Visually Selecting Geographic Coordinates (Latitude / Longitude) for Maps

FCC site for decimal degree conversion: Degrees Minutes Seconds to/from Decimal Degrees

Scale finder for determining scale (particularly useful for archaic units of measurement): https://freemappingtools.yolasite.com/scale-finder.php