Exploring the Terra Incognita of Access and Discovery: The Evolution of Cartographic Cataloging in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Cataloging has seen substantial change since 2000, and the cataloging of maps, geospatial data, and other cartographic resources is no exception. The pace and scale of change, tied to the evolution of technology and cataloging/metadata standards, have been swift and broad. This paper highlights the most important changes and trends in the cataloging of cartographic resources during the first thirteen years of the twenty-first century through a review of the published literature and summarizes the state of map cataloging today. The author concludes by proposing future directions for research and practice.

KEYWORDS:

• cartographic resources
• maps
• geospatial data
• cataloging
• metadata
• map cataloging