Cataloging Cartographic Materials
with RDA
Credits
• RDA and Cartographic Materials: Mapping a New
Route / Paige Andrew
• Cartographic Communication / Kenneth E. Foote and
Shannon Crum
• RDA for Cartographic Resources / Katherine Rankin
and Mary Lynette Larsgaard
Cartographic Datasets
Cartographic content
expressed through a
digitally encoded dataset
intended to be processed
by a computer.
Cartographic Image
Cartographic content expressed
through line, shape, shading, etc.
intended to be perceived visually
as a still image or images in two
dimensions. Includes maps, views,
atlases, remote-sensing images,
etc.
Cartographic
Moving Image
Cartographic
Three-Dimensional
Form
Cartographic content
expressed through images
intended to be perceived
as moving, in two
dimensions. Includes
satellite images of the
Earth or other celestial
bodies in motion.
Cartographic content
express through a form(s)
intended to be perceived
visually in 3 dimension.
Includes globes, relief
models, etc.
Cartographic Tactile
Image
Cartographic content
expressed through line, shape,
and/or other forms, intended
to be perceived through touch
as a still image in two
dimensions.
Cartographic
Tactile ThreeDimensional Form
Cartographic content expressed
through a form or forms
intended to be perceived
through touch as a threedimensional form or forms.
Map Elements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Distance or scale
Direction
Legend
Projection
Neatlines
Locator maps
Inset maps
Index maps
Map Scale
Verbal
1 inch equals 1 mile
Numeric
1:63,500
Graphic (bar)
Direction
True north: the direction to the North Pole
Magnetic north: The North Magnetic Pole is the point
on the surface of Earth's Northern Hemisphere at
which the planet's magnetic field points vertically
downwards. The North Magnetic Pole moves over time
due to magnetic changes in the Earth's core
Legend
Legend: lists the symbols
used on a map and what
they depict
Projection
Projection: influences the representation of area,
distance, direction and shape.
Some widely used locational reference systems such at
the Universal Transverse Mercator system are based on
predefined projective geometries that are implicit in
the use of the coordinate systems themselves.
Neatlines
Neatlines or clipping lines are used to frame a map and
to indicate exactly where the area of a map begins and
ends. The outer neatline of a map--its border--helps to
frame the entire map composition to draw the reader's
attention to the various elements of information.
Neatlines are also used to "clip" the area of the body of
the map and of locator, inset, and index maps.
Locator maps
Some maps portray areas whose locations may be
unfamiliar to readers. In such cases, the cartographer
adds a "helper" or locator map that places the body of
the map within a larger geographical context with
which the reader can be expected to be familiar.
Inset maps
Sometimes observations and data are so densely
clustered in small sections of a larger map that the
cartographer must provide the reader with additional
close-up, "zoomed-in" maps of these smaller areas.
Otherwise the data will obscure itself. These close-up
detailed maps are called insets.
Index maps
There are limits to the
amount of information
that can be placed
effectively in the body of a
map, even though this
information is useful to
readers. Sometimes labels
and other information
have to be moved to an
index map.
Summary of Changes with RDA
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Record what is there, even if there is an error
Use very few abbreviations -- no Latin ones
“Rule of 3” is gone
New 3xx fields – no GMD
Less bracketing
Relator terms
Use of copyright dates
Changes in recording place of publication
Record What is There
AACR2
245 00 Geologic map of
Tabago [e.i. Tobago], West
Indies
RDA
245 00 Geologica map of
Tabago, West Indies
246 3_ |I Corrected title: |a
Geologic map of Tobago, West
Indies
Rule of Three
AACR2
245 10 Geologic map to
Tobago, West Indies / |c
cartography by Arthur W.
Smoke … [et al.]
RDA
245 10 Geologic map of
Tobago, West Indies / |c
cartography by Dr. Arthur W.
Smoke, Dr. David W. Rowe, Dr.
J. Douglas Yule, Department of
geology and Geophysics,
University of Wyoming, Dr.
Geoffrey Wadge,
Environmental Systems
Science Centre, University of
Reading.
Rule of Three
RDA Options:
245 10 Geologic map of Tobago, West Indies / |c by
cartography by Arthur W. Smoke, David W. Rowe, J.
Douglas Yule, Geoffrey Wadge.
245 10 Geologic map of Tobago, West Indies / |c
cartography by Arthur W. Smoke [and three others].
Rule of Three Access Points
• 1st named cartographer in the 100 field (authorized
access point)
• Other contributors in the 700 field (variant access
points)
• RDA does not require a variant access point be
justified by something in the record.
Rule of Three Access Points
100 10 Smoke, Arthur W., |e cartographer
700 10 Rowe, David W., |e cartographer
700 10 Yule, J. Douglas, |e cartographer
700 10 Wadge, Geoffrey, |e cartographer
Brackets & Abbreviations
• Only information taken from outside the material
being cataloged is bracketed
• Each element that needs to be bracketed in a field
gets its own set of brackets
• Very few abbreviations used
• Latin abbreviations are not used
Brackets & Abbreviations
AACR2
[S.l. : |b s.n., |c 1967?]
RDA
[Place of publication not
identified] : |b [publisher not
identified], |c [1967?]
Publication Place
AACR2
• In AACR2, if the first place
of publication was not in
the country of the
cataloging agency, the next
place that was in that
country was also recorded
London, New York : Macmillan
RDA
• In RDA, only the first place
is recorded
London : Macmillan
Publisher
AACR2
• Give in the shortest form
possible that can be
understood
• Use abbreviations
RDA
• Record as given on the
resource
Chicago : Rand McNally
Chicago : Rand McNally and
Company
Washington, D.C. : United
States Department of
Agriculture
Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept.
of Agriculture
Dates
AACR2
Austin, Tex. : University of
Texas, [197-]
RDA
Austin, Tex. : University of
Texas, [between 1970 and
1979]
[Reston] : United States
Geological Survey, [2002?]
[Reston] : United States
Geological Survey, [no
publication date identified],
c2002
Edition Statement
AACR2
Always abbreviated
Numbers always in ordinal
form
RDA
• Record as given on the
resource
3rd rev. ed.
4th enlarged ed.
Third revised edition
4th enlarged edition
Mathematical Data Elements
• RDA 7.25 Recording Scale Statements
• RDA 7.26 Recording Projection Statements
• RDA 7.4 Recording Coordinates
Recording Scale
• 7.25.1.3
– Record the scale of the resource as a representative
fraction expressed as a ratio
– If the scale statement that appears in the resource is not
expressed as a representative fraction, convert the scale
statement into a representative fraction.
– If no scale statement is found in the resource or in another
source, estimate a representative fraction from a bar scale
or a grid. Record approximately preceding the estimated
representative fraction.
Mathematical Data Elements
AACR2
RDA
Scale [ca. 1:10,000]
Scale approximately 1:10,000
Scale [1:600]. 50 ft. to an in.
Scale 1:600. 50 ft. to an in.
3.3B1. Give scale as a RF, if not in
that form convert and give in
square brackets with “ca.” if
computed from a Natural Scale
Indicator, or only in square
brackets if computed from a
verbal scale.
7.25.1.3, instructions for
recording scale overall, must
give as RF form; 7.25.3.3
instructions for recording
horizontal scale. Square
brackets are NOT used.
Physical Description Elements
• Metric symbols are not abbreviations (“cm” not “cm.)
• No abbreviations (color, not col.)
• Color versus Colored
– Color: any map that has been printed using 2 or more
colors
– Colored: one or more colors were applied to the finished
product after it was made, either printed or manuscript,
such as in the phrase “hand-colored”
Recording Extent
• Extent (RDA 3.4.2): record the extent of the resource
by giving the number of units and an appropriate
term from the following list:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Atlas
Diagram
Globe
Map
Model
Profile
Profile
Remote-sensing image
Section
View
Recording Layout
• Layout (RDA 3.11.2.3): For cartographic resources
other than atlases, record both sides if:
a) the image is continued at the same scale on
the other side of the sheet or sheets OR
b) the description is for a collection of images, on
both sides of the sheet or sheets.
• If the same image is represented in more than one
language on each side of the sheet, record back to
back.
Recording Color
• Color (RDA 7.17.1): If the content of the resource is
in colours other than black and white or shades of
grey, record the presence of colour using an
appropriate term. Disregard coloured matter outside
the actual content of the resource (e.g., the border
of a map).
Recording Dimensions
• Dimensions (RDA 3.5.2.2): Record the dimensions of
each map, etc., by giving the measurements of the
face of the map, etc., measured within the neat line.
Record the height × width or diameter, as
appropriate. When recording diameter, indicate that
it is the diameter.
• More instructions at 3.5.2.2-3.5.2.7
300 Field
AACR2
1 map : col. ; 25 x 15 cm.
RDA
1 map : color ; 25 x 15 cm
1 atlas (82 [i.e. 164], 37 p.) :
col. maps ; 31 cm.
1 atlas (82, that is, 164, 37
pages) : color maps ; 31 cm.
New 3xx Fields
336
337
338
Content type – what is it? (RDA 6.9)
Media type – how is it stored? (RDA 3.2)
Carrier type – where is it stored? (RDA 3.3)
Example for a Sheet Map
336 cartographic image |2 rdacontent
337 unmediated |2 rdamedia
338 sheet |2 rdacarrier
Example for a GIS Dataset
336 cartographic dataset |2 rdacontent
337 computer |2 rdamedia
338 online resource |2 rdacarrier
Example for a Globe
336 cartographic image |2 rdacontent
337 unmediated |2 rdamedia
338 other |2 rdacarrier
Relationship Designators
Appendix I
• I.2.1 Relationship designators for creators
– Author
– Cartographer
– Designer
• I.2.2 Relationship designators for other persons,
families, or corporate bodies associated with a work
– Producer
– Sponsoring body