I know where it is - but what does it show?

Library catalogues have certainly come a long way from the days of the seemingly endless trays of cards.   Library systems and catalogues are now augmented or ‘enriched’ by a wealth of supplementary information resulting in a greatly enhanced catalogue record.  The interconnectivity of the internet has resulted in greater access to information such as reviews, author biographies, excerpts, or images associated with the product.  This additional information need not be contained within the library or even with the individual record of the book, but can be pulled in from additional sources to augment the record as required.

What does it all mean for the average library user?  Today’s library patrons are used to accessing much more information over the internet and consequently they’re seeking more from the library.  Frequently, library catalogues are being accessed off-site.  Providing the user with this additional information may assist with the evaluation of materials and help to narrow their selections before ever visiting the library.  Even something as simple as providing an image of an album cover of an audio recording can be extremely helpful, not to mention a little more visually appealing.

How does this apply to maps?  Perhaps snippets of maps can be added to the record to help illustrate the content of the map. In many cases, the legend of the map can be included to enrich the catalogue record.  The legend defines all of the symbols shown on the map and would certainly assist the reader by showing them precisely what it contains.  Currently, the scale and geographic extent of the map forms an integral part of the catalogue record, but beyond that the record describing the contents can be pretty sparse.  If given an opportunity to include a portion of the legend, the record will provide a better indication of what the map actually contains.  In addition to adding the legend, many systems allow individual users to add tags or to write reviews for the record, further assisting others with their own evaluation of the resource.  Catalogue records for maps can be pretty vague, but they certainly don’t need to be!