Abstract for the International Conference on Tactile Diagrams Maps and Pictures 2002

Do not reinvent the wheel: standards in cataloguing or metadata

Andrew Tatham

ICA Commission on Maps and Diagrams for Blind and Visually
Impaired People. Information Resources Division, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Because tactile maps and graphics tend to be created by individuals who are outwith the mainstream of Library or Information Professionals, there are considerable risks that much time and effort will be expended in reinventing two sets of wheels.
The first of these is the recreation of particular maps. No-one knows that Bloggs did a very good map of Blankton Shopping Centre in 1999, so Smith makes a new one in 2002, when all that was necessary was a revised listing of shop tenants. All that was needed was an online catalogue. The second is the format of such a catalogue. There are several standard cataloguing systems that include a wide variety of media and formats - including tactile maps. There really is no need for anyone to spend time devising a local system. Both aspects of standardisation will be illustrated in the paper.

 

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