Introduction - Map Cataloging Manual

This new Map Cataloging Manual represents more than twenty years of effort to assemble all viable information, practice, and policy regarding the cataloging of maps into one document.

Not long after the publication and adoption of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) in 1967, it became apparent that it would be necessary for the Division to provide interpretations to the rules to ensure consistency of map cataloging. To that ends, the Division’s catalogers began holding regular meetings to discuss and analyze various aspects of map cataloging. Minutes of these meetings including all decisions and instructions were fully documented and distributed to the catalogers for use in all processing activities.

It became obvious, however, that this means of disseminating cataloging policy information was inefficient. Therefore, in the mid-1970’s Janet Swan Hill, then head of the Cataloging Unit, collected and collocated these decisions into a manual for cataloging maps. However, with the appearance of the second edition of the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) in 1978, and its adoption by the Library in 1981, and the publication in 1982 of Cartographic Materials: A Manual of Interpretation for AACR2 (AACCCM), Prepared by the Anglo-American Cataloging Committee on Cartographic Materials, the need to maintain an up-to-date in-house cataloging manual became less essential.

Recently, the demand for an updated cataloging manual and for guidance on LC map cataloging practice and policy has increased dramatically due in part to the expansion of map cataloging by the bibliographic utilities, the proliferation of independent map cataloging projects at other libraries and archives, and the large number of librarians outside LC who are not responsible for cataloging maps.

To produce this Map Cataloging Manual, the original Division document was converted to machine-readable form using an optical character reader. In addition, all subsequent memoranda and cataloging decisions that has been developed over the intervening years under the supervision of John R. Schroeder, Head of the Cataloging Unit, were also converted and incorporated of John R. Schroeder, Head of the Cataloging Unit, were also converted and incorporated into a single draft document. This draft was then reviewed, up-dated, and expanded to comply with AACR2 and AACCCM by Division senior map catalogers Richard M. Fox, Alfred A. Herman, Pamela A. Rau, and Alex D. Richey, under the direction of Mr. Schroeder. Information which is currently and adequately explained in AACCCM has generally not been repeated in this manual. Additionally, for the most part, information published in the Library’s Rule Interpretations (LCRI), Subject Cataloging Manual, and Classification Schedule, Class G has not been repeated. Instead, references, given as footnotes, have been included where appropriate. References to other sections of this manual are also given as footnotes citing the chapter or appendix name and number as well as the headings and sub-headings necessary to locate referenced information. Following this lengthy review process, the manual was edited for style and layout and was indexed by Elizabeth U. Mangan, Head of the Data Preparation and Files Maintenance Unit.

The Map Cataloging Manual is organized in chapters and appendices with each chapter and appendix separately paged to facilitate the updating of an individual chapter or appendix. Periodically issued of new and replacement pages as well as a revised index will be available from the Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20541. An availability announcement for each update will be published in the Library of Congress Information Bulletin and distributed to those who purchased the manual.

David K. Carrington

Head, Technical Services Section