Index map

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Index maps are a type of finding aid that allow users find a set of maps covering their regions of interest along with the name or number of the relevant map sheet. An index maps provides geospatial representation on either a sheet of paper or a computer screen. In this way, a map acts as a kind of gazetteer, with the location (such as a call number) represented within a grid overlaying the maps surface.[1]

One important need for geospatial data such as this: political borders often change. Information is being searched by coordinates, rather than the metadata for a particular country and region that can be entered into a catalog. Additionally, in various institutions, maps are sometimes cataloged individually or as sets, resulting in various levels of specificity.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jensen, et al., K.L. (June 2004), “Index maps for the digital age”, Information Technology and Libraries 23 (2): 81-7