PROVIDING REMOTE PROVIDING REMOTE ACCESS TO MAP SET ACCESS TO MAP SET

AND SERIES HOLDINGSAND SERIES HOLDINGS

USING DIGITAL INDEX MAPS AS USING DIGITAL INDEX MAPS AS A DISCOVERY TOOLA DISCOVERY TOOL

By Paige G. AndrewFaculty Maps CatalogerPennsylvania State Univ. Libraries

Earth and Mineral Sciences LibraryEarth and Mineral Sciences Library

BACKGROUND INFORMATIONBACKGROUND INFORMATIONWHATWHAT

How best to get sheet-level information (holdings) for map sets/seriesHow best to get sheet-level information (holdings) for map sets/seriesin the Earth and Mineral Science’s map collection to remote users?in the Earth and Mineral Science’s map collection to remote users?

WHOWHO

Kristi JensenKristi Jensen, Reference Librarian, Earth and Mineral Sciences , Reference Librarian, Earth and Mineral Sciences LibraryLibrary

Linda MusserLinda Musser, Head, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library, Head, Earth and Mineral Sciences LibraryPaige AndrewPaige Andrew, Faculty Maps Cataloger, Faculty Maps Cataloger

WHENWHEN

Idea generated in 2001; cataloging and embedding links completed inIdea generated in 2001; cataloging and embedding links completed in2003; ongoing project depending on need2003; ongoing project depending on need

ACCESS, ACCESS, ACCESS!!ACCESS, ACCESS, ACCESS!!

As desktop and laptop computers have become As desktop and laptop computers have become more ubiquitous in society the demand for more ubiquitous in society the demand for reaching information has risen dramatically.reaching information has risen dramatically.

Thus, libraries must provide access to materials Thus, libraries must provide access to materials electronically for users who come to the physical electronically for users who come to the physical library less and less often, including materials library less and less often, including materials that are not “born digital”. that are not “born digital”.

ACCESS is the key to satisfied library patrons…ACCESS is the key to satisfied library patrons…

Access to Individual Maps and Access to Individual Maps and Then to Map Sets/SeriesThen to Map Sets/Series

Digitizing individual maps and putting them Digitizing individual maps and putting them online to view (American Memory Project, David online to view (American Memory Project, David Rumsey Collection, Univ. of Illinois, etc.) is Rumsey Collection, Univ. of Illinois, etc.) is commoncommon

Access to individual sheets in a set via a Access to individual sheets in a set via a viewable online map index becoming commonviewable online map index becoming common

Access to the online map index from a Access to the online map index from a bibliographic record to see overall holdings is bibliographic record to see overall holdings is not common. Penn State Libraries is making not common. Penn State Libraries is making progress with this new tool for patrons to use progress with this new tool for patrons to use

The index map: a discovery toolThe index map: a discovery tool

Collections of maps in sets or series usually are notCollections of maps in sets or series usually are notcomprehensive. So, how does one tell which individualcomprehensive. So, how does one tell which individualsheets are in the set and which ones are not?sheets are in the set and which ones are not?

An index map to a particular map set or series canAn index map to a particular map set or series caneffectively identify which sheet or sheets, i.e., the holdings effectively identify which sheet or sheets, i.e., the holdings within the set or series, are a part of that title. within the set or series, are a part of that title.

Traditionally, paper index maps have been created to fulfillTraditionally, paper index maps have been created to fulfillthis identification purpose. Today, the next iteration of thethis identification purpose. Today, the next iteration of theindex map has arrived, those copied to, or created in,index map has arrived, those copied to, or created in,digital form.digital form.

Digital Image of Single MapDigital Image of Single Map

Types of Online Index MapsTypes of Online Index MapsScanned version of a Scanned version of a paper index map that is paper index map that is then posted onlinethen posted online

““Born digital” or digitally Born digital” or digitally created index map, e.g., created index map, e.g., EMS Library’s. Can be EMS Library’s. Can be static (Map Library’s) or static (Map Library’s) or active (EMS Library’s) active (EMS Library’s)

Advantage of Online vs. Hardcopy Advantage of Online vs. Hardcopy Map IndexesMap Indexes

Online indexes are more accessibleOnline indexes are more accessible““Always” available for useAlways” available for useLess worry about it being “lost” or Less worry about it being “lost” or damaged with use as with paper indexesdamaged with use as with paper indexesSupports online links to bibliographic Supports online links to bibliographic records and/or other similar resourcesrecords and/or other similar resourcesUser can identify what specific sheet is User can identify what specific sheet is held by the library held by the library beforebefore making a trip to making a trip to the librarythe library

PROJECT GOALSPROJECT GOALS

Provide visual access to individual sheets Provide visual access to individual sheets in a set or series via an online map index, in a set or series via an online map index, i.e., show local holdings of a particular set i.e., show local holdings of a particular set

Provide more than one method of reaching Provide more than one method of reaching the online map indexthe online map index

Make the online map index direct the Make the online map index direct the patron to specific sheet information, most patron to specific sheet information, most importantly its call numberimportantly its call number

Multiple vs. Single Access PointsMultiple vs. Single Access Points

Click on country from Click on country from a list on EMS websitea list on EMS website

Click on imbedded Click on imbedded hotlink from hotlink from bibliographic record bibliographic record

Multiple vs. Single Access Points Multiple vs. Single Access Points ContinuedContinued

Find the online Find the online index map index map itself by itself by searching for searching for its its bibliographic bibliographic record in The record in The CAT, our CAT, our online catalogonline catalog

Jumping to the Bib. Record from Sheet Jumping to the Bib. Record from Sheet NameName

Test Case: Geological map of Test Case: Geological map of Turkey at 1:500,000Turkey at 1:500,000

21 sheets make up the 21 sheets make up the setset

Each sheet individually Each sheet individually namednamed

Already cataloged at the Already cataloged at the sheet levelsheet level

Only have partial Only have partial holdings (18 of 21 holdings (18 of 21 sheets)sheets)

Regularly used by our Regularly used by our patrons for researchpatrons for research

To “X” or Not To “X”To “X” or Not To “X”

How should we visually indicate which sheets in a set were How should we visually indicate which sheets in a set were notnot available? available?

In paper environment an “X” marked on a cell, or a In paper environment an “X” marked on a cell, or a colored-in corner means the sheet is availablecolored-in corner means the sheet is available

In the online environment an “X” or cross-through (“/”) an In the online environment an “X” or cross-through (“/”) an image means the oppositeimage means the opposite

Surveys of users in the PSU community confirmed that Surveys of users in the PSU community confirmed that seeing an “X” through a particular cell on the index map seeing an “X” through a particular cell on the index map meant “not available”meant “not available”

How Created? and ContentHow Created? and Content

ArcView Software used to show geographic area ArcView Software used to show geographic area involved, overlain with appropriate reference gridinvolved, overlain with appropriate reference grid

(country files from Digital Chart of the World)(country files from Digital Chart of the World)

Color scheme is uniform across various indexes createdColor scheme is uniform across various indexes createdMajor cities shownMajor cities shownName of individual sheets shown and also linked to the Name of individual sheets shown and also linked to the individual bibliographic record (“name” may be textual, individual bibliographic record (“name” may be textual, numerical or alphanumerical)numerical or alphanumerical)Textual instructions added, use of the “red X”Textual instructions added, use of the “red X”Links to related additional sites for reference addedLinks to related additional sites for reference added

Links to a Descriptive RecordLinks to a Descriptive RecordEach cell in the map index Each cell in the map index is hotlinked to a is hotlinked to a bibliographic record, except bibliographic record, except those with an “X”those with an “X”

Bibliographic record may be Bibliographic record may be for the individual sheet for the individual sheet shown or for the set as a shown or for the set as a wholewhole

Bibliographic record gives Bibliographic record gives the call number a patron the call number a patron needs to retrieve the item(s) needs to retrieve the item(s) wantedwanted

Details Within the Bib. RecordDetails Within the Bib. Record

Variety of ways to imbed hotlinks in a Variety of ways to imbed hotlinks in a bibliographic recordbibliographic recordBest way to “tell” patron about the map Best way to “tell” patron about the map index and what it is used for (display label index and what it is used for (display label and wording within a note or other field)and wording within a note or other field)856 chosen for use, though not 856 chosen for use, though not necessarily the “best” field necessarily the “best” field 555 “Cumulative Index/Finding Aids Note” 555 “Cumulative Index/Finding Aids Note” field would be best choicefield would be best choice

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Patron access to information about holdings Patron access to information about holdings of a map set enhanced by online map index of a map set enhanced by online map index

Online index maps are retrieved by:Online index maps are retrieved by:

1. List from EMS Library’s homepage1. List from EMS Library’s homepage

2. Bib. record found in The CAT for the index 2. Bib. record found in The CAT for the index mapmap

3. Bib. record found in The CAT for either the3. Bib. record found in The CAT for either the

map set/series as a whole OR for a sheet withinmap set/series as a whole OR for a sheet within

a map set/seriesa map set/series

EMS Library’s online index maps are activeEMS Library’s online index maps are active

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFOR MORE INFORMATION

A co-authored article with much more A co-authored article with much more details about this project will be published details about this project will be published in the near future by:in the near future by:

Information Technology and LibrariesInformation Technology and Libraries