Map Format Field Guide This page outlines the essential fields for the MARC format for maps. Each field is listed with brief description and examples of use. Links are made to additional materials that help to visualize each field and the origin of the data that it represents. Refer to the Sample Map Record to see how the completed work appears. The materials below are not comprehensive, but merely to be used in assisting the basics of map cataloging.
What Qualifies As a Map Format Item? According to AACRII: Cartographic Materials 3.0. General Rules Scope: Cartographic materials include all materials that represent the whole or part of the earth or any celestial body. These include two- and three-dimensional maps and plans (including maps of imaginary places); aeronautical, nautical, and celestial charts; atlases; globes; block diagrams; sections; aerial photographs with a cartographic purpose; bird's-eye views (map views); etc. They do not cover in detail the description of early or manuscript cartographic materials, though the use of an additional term in the physical description (see 3.5B) and/or the use of the specific instructions in chapter 4 will furnish a sufficiently detailed description for the general library catalogue. For items falling within the scope of other chapters but presenting cartographic information (e.g., some wall charts, some playing cards), consult the rules in this chapter in conjunction with those of the chapter appropriate to the item.
In examples below the delimiter may also be shown as ß or = For a correct delimiter character in OCLC input, use Control-d.

Fixed Fields	OCLC Field help
Fields that are somewhat constant for maps. Type: e Cartographic material (MAP) BLvl: Bibliographic Level (All formats) a Component part, monographic b Component part, serial c Collection m Monograph s Serial (MAP) CrTp: Type of Cartographic Material (Map and Field 006) Contains an alphabetic code that indicates the type of record. a Single map b Map series c Map serial (Also use "Bib lvl" code "s" for a map serial) d Globe e Atlas f Seperate supplement to another work g Bound as part of another work u Unknown z Other Form: Form of Item as for other formats. SpFm: Special Format Characteristics (MAP and Field 006) blank No specified special format characteristics (most common) e Manuscript j Picture card, post card k Calendar l Puzzle m Braille, tactile. Obsolete. Do not use. Use Form (Map and Field 006) code f. n Game o Wall map p Playing cards q Large print. Obsolete. Do not use. Use Form (Map and Field 006) code d. r Loose-leaf z Other Map Projection (MAP and Field 006) PROJ: Projection is taken from map (or determined from cataloger's experience). Two characters. Map projection is printed on the map, usually in the Legend. If it is not, the cataloger may attempt to determine the category of the projection based on examination of the map (then use the last code for each main category below). If no projection can be given, use "u" for unknown. If the projection type can be determined (i.e., conic), this can be added using the MARC indicators. Related field: 255. Map Projection examples. See also projections. PROJ Code Map Projection (data used also for 255) blank no projection is specified (also unknown) Azimuthal   aa Aitoff ab Gnomic ac Lambert's azimuthal equal area ad Orthographic ae Azimuthal equidistant af Stereographic au Azimuthal, specific type unknown Cylindrical   ba Gall bb Goode's homolographic bc Lambert's cylindrical equal area bd Mercator be Miller bf Mollweide bg Sinusoidal bh Transverse Mercator bi Gauss-Kruger bu Cylindrical, specific type unknown Conic   ca Alber's equal area cb Bonne cc Lambert's conformal conic cp Polyconic cu Conic, specific type unknown Other   da Armadillo db Butterfly dc Eckert dd Goode's homolosine de Miller's bipolar oblique conformal conic df Van Der Grinten dg Dimaxion dh Cordiform zz Other (any projection not on this list) Relief Codes (MAP and Field 006) RELF: Relief contains alphabetic codes describing relief types. Since maps often display several types of relief, one to four codes may be recorded. Enter codes in order of their importance to the map. Related fields: 255 500 Note on Relief.

Index Code (INDX): Designates whether an index map or chart is provided. Index maps provide the location of the map in relation to the surrounding maps in a series. Related field: 500 (Notes). 0 No index 1 Index present

Examples

Colored printed map on paper (most common) 007 a a b j d be a f n g z h n

Uncolored printed map on paper (common) 007 a a b j d a e a f n g z h n

Colored relief model (map) on paper (3-d maps) 007 a a b q d a e e f n g z h n

255 Mathematical Details (scale, projection, coordinates, other coordinate data). Related fields: 034. A text description of the scale, projection, coordinates (latitude/longitude, etc.). Field parallels the 034 field and both are required. (See also resources: Mathematical Data, Map Projections, Map Scale, Map Coordinates.) Scale (255 subfield a) Scale is taken directly from the map, or it can be calculated using the bar scale (showing distance in relation to the map). Scale 1:62,500 ; Polyconic proj. (W 74030'00"--W 74015'00"/N 44015'00"--N 44000'00"). If no scale is given and no scale is indicated by other means, then enter: Scale not given. It is possible to compare the map to other maps of the same location that have scale indicated, and then to make an inference, but LC does not do this, nor do they recommend it. It may be useful in a local collection so the cataloger must determine this first. If the scale cannot be determined by any means (either by examination of the map or by comparison to known map scales), then use the following: Scale indeterminable. A verbal equivalent to the scale may be included if it is provided on the map: Scale 1:250,000. 1 in.= 3.95 mi. 1 cm. = 2.5 km. Polyconic proj. (W 74030'00"--W 74015'00"/N 44015'00"--N 44000'00"). If it is not included on the map but can be inferred by the cataloger, then place the terms in brackets: Scale 1:250,000. [1 in.= 3.95 mi.]. Polyconic proj. (W 74030'00"--W 74015'00"/N 44015'00"--N 44000'00"). Scale may be inferred by the cataloger when a map has measureable data. See an example, showing how scale can be determined. The use of brackets shows that the cataloger calculated the ratio from data on the map. 255 Scale [1:63,360]. If the scale can be approximated from measuring the bar scale and making a ratio, use: Scale [ca. 1:55,000] For some maps, such as tourist maps and pictorial maps, the map is not to a particular scale. Use: Not drawn to scale.

Map Scale is: a ratio representing the relationship between a specified distance on a map and the actual distance on the ground. For example, at the scale of 1:50 000, 1 unit of measurement on the map equals 50,000 units of the same measurement on the ground. Map scale is frequently expressed as a representative fraction and graphically as a bar scale. (See more on Scale). Common Map Scales Scale 1 inch = 1 cm. = Map Covers 1:24,000 (7.5 minute series) 2,000 feet 240 meters 40-70 sq. mi. 1:25,000 (7.5 x 15 minute series) 2,083 feet 250 meters (approx.) 98-140 sq. mi. 1:50,000 0.8 mile 500 meters (approx.) 196-280 sq. mi. 1:63,360 1 mile 634 meters (approx.) 207-281 sq. mi. 1:100,000 1.6 mile 1 km (approx.) 1,568-2,240 sq. mi. 1:250,000 4 miles 2.5 km (approx.) 4,580-8,669 sq. mi. 1:1,000,000 16 miles 10 km (approx.) 15,680-22,400 sq. mi. Additional tools: Scale Finder (Nigel James, Bodleian Library, Map Room). Convert linear scales to representative fractions and vice-versa.

Projection (255 subfield b) - (see also OCLC: 255 Cartographic Mathematical Data and Map Projections). Scale 1:24,000 ; ‡b polyconic proj. Enter map projection as described on the map (in the legend or other place). If no projection is specified, but it is obviously of a specific category (e.g.., conic), you may use this as your description. Enter map projection that reflects the code you used in the PROJ. fixed field.

Coordinates (255 subfield c) - (see also OCLC: 255 Cartographic Mathematical Data and Map Coordinates). This subfield provides coordinates of the map's location in the world (see: also celestial bodies; celestial charts). Field 255 may be repeated if the sheet being described has two maps (i.e., one on each side). When describing degrees, minutes, and seconds, enter the following keys: Symbol OCLC Insert character Degrees degree symbol Minutes miagkii znak Seconds tverdyi znak Subfield c is used to show coordinates in the following order: westernmost longitude--easternmost longitude/northernmost latitude--southernmost latitude. ex: ‡c (W 74030'--W 74015'/N 44015'--N 44000'). Record coordinates in the form hdddmmss (hemisphere-degrees-minutes-seconds) or, in other forms, such as decimal degrees. Use zeros to fill in unused data elements. You can express the coordinates using degrees 0, minutes ', and seconds " (most common), or you may express the coordinates in the following ways (depending on your map): Decimal degrees: hddd.dddddd (hemisphere-degrees.decimal degrees): Scale 1:100,000 ‡c (E 079.5333265--E 086.216635/S 012.583377--S 020.419532). 034 1 a ‡b 100000 ‡d E 079.5333265 ‡e E 086.216635 ‡f S 012.583377 ‡g S020.419532 Decimal degrees: + -ddd.dddddd (hemisphere[+/-]-degrees.decimal degrees [+ for N and E, - for S and W with + being optional]): 255 Scale 1:100,000 ‡c (E 079.5333265--E 086.216635/S 012.583377--S 020.419532). 034 1 a ‡b 100000 ‡d +079.5333265 ‡e +086.216635 ‡f S -012.583377‡g -020.419532 Decimal degrees without the optional +: Scale 1:100,000 ‡c (E 079.5333265--E 086.216635/S 012.583377--S 020.419532). 034 1 a ‡b 100000 ‡d 079.5333265 ‡e 086.216635 ‡f S 012.583377‡g 020.419532 Decimal minutes: hdddmm.mmmm (hemisphere-degrees-minutes.decimal minutes): Scale 1:100,000 ‡c (E 07932.5332--E 08607.4478/S 01235.5421--S 02028.9704). 034 1 a ‡b 100000 ‡d E07932.5332 ‡e E08607.4478 ‡f S01235.5421‡g S02028.9704 Decimal seconds: hdddmmss.sss (hemisphere-degrees-minutes-seconds.decimal seconds): Scale 1:100,000 ‡c (E 0793235.575--E 0860727.350 /S 012536.895--S 0202858.125). 034 1 a ‡b 100000 ‡d E0793235.575 ‡e E0860727.350 ‡f S012536.895 ‡g S0202858.125 Coordinates for celestial bodies (e.g., Moon, Saturn) do not use the 255 (or 034), but instead a 500 note: 500 Lunar coordinates: W 74030'--W 74015'/N 44015'--N 44000'. (see sample record and 500 note). Coordinates for celestial charts (e.g., star charts) are given in the 255 using subfields d and e: ‡d Statement of zone. The statement of zone for celestial charts. 255 Scales differ ‡ d (Zones +90˚ to +81˚ to 63˚, -81˚ to 98˚ ; ‡ e eq. 1950). ‡e Statement of equinox. The statement of equinox or epoch. 255 Scale not given ‡ d (RA 0 hr. to 24 hr./Decl. +90˚ to -90˚ ; ‡ e eq. 1980).

250 Edition Statement Edition of the map often is given as a note on the margin or below the date of original edition of the map.

260 Place, Publisher, Date. Elements gathered from the map; similar to book data except that data may not all be in one place. Use publisher data from: legend, margin, publisher's statement along neatline, and other locations on map.

300 Physical Description. Description of the map (or maps), giving quantity, color, dimensions (height x width) of map, dimensions (height x width) of sheet, and accompanying materials (pamphlets, etc.). Dimensions can show map size, sheet size, size of largest and smallest sheets in group, or approximate size. See also: Physical Description Area; Measuring examples. 300   ‡a 1 map : ‡bcol. ; ‡c 56 x 77 cm. 300   ‡a 1 map ; ‡c 56 x 77 cm. 300   ‡a 1 map on 3 sheets : ‡b col. ; ‡c 56 x 77 cm. 300   ‡a 1 map : ‡bcol. ; ‡c on sheet 56 x 77 cm. folded to 21 x 11 cm. 300   ‡a 1 map : ‡b col. ; ‡c 43 x 33 cm., on sheet 100 x 69 cm., folded to 20 x 23 cm. 300   ‡a 1 atlas (126 p.) : ‡b col. ill., col. maps ; ‡c 28 x 43 cm. 300   ‡a 1 atlas (1 v. (various pagings)) : ‡b ill. (some col.), col. maps ; ‡c 22 x 37 cm. 300   ‡a 1 map : ‡b photocopy ; ‡c 70 x 51 cm., on sheet 87 x 106 cm., folded to 22 x 27 cm. Some descriptions need to be complex: 300   ‡a 30 maps on 4 sheets : ‡b col. ; ‡c each 30 x 31 cm., sheets 79 x 125 cm. and 77 x 138 cm., folded in envelope 30 x 24 cm. Or show additional pieces to the title: 300   ‡a 4 maps on 2 sheets : ‡b photocopies ; ‡c each 37 x 47 cm., sheets 92 x 61 cm., folded to 28 x 21 cm. + ‡e 1 text-pamphlet (10 p. ; 28 cm.) Satellite images are treated the same, except for: 300   ‡a 1 remote-sensing image : ‡b col., photocopy ; ‡c 36 x 46 cm.

440, 490 Series Title (and 8XX complements). These are treated the same as for monograph series titles. Map series titles are often found along the margins of the map and can be discerned by words such as "sheet no.," "hoya," "map n-n," and other designators. Examples: Western Europe 1:250,000 ; NM 34-2 7.5 minute series (topographic). Pennsylvania Eastern United States 1:250,000 ; NL 18-12 15 minute series (topographic). New York (State) Exceptions: With some "series" type designations on USGS and AMS maps, LC does not enter such in the series field, but instead creates a 246 other title entry and a 500 note: 246 30 Series V501 500      Standard map series designation: Series V501.

5XX - Note Fields (in field order) Click here.

6XX - Subject Headings. Subject headings can be given for main geographical features, subject/topic/theme of the map, specific or significant geographical features appearing on the map, and for ancillary maps and materials. Subdivisions. See the most common Map Subdivisions For use with LC Subject Headings. Also refer to 052 - Geographic Classification Data for fields relating to geographical subject headings. Special Applications and Instructions offers brief summaries of map cataloging subject analysis problems and "tricky" topics.

David J. Bertuca, Map Librarian, University at Buffalo. Created by 26 October 2000 Last Modified: 24 January 2018 URL: http://www.DavidBertuca.net/maps/cat/fields.html Back to: Map Format Field Guide Back to: Map Cataloger's Toolbox Back to: Cataloging Resources The materials selected above do not necessarily reflect the policies and procedures of the State University of New York at Buffalo.