Maps Collections in Australia: a directory  
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How collection details are displayed

When you search for a map collection within the Directory, your results will appear in two forms:

1. Summary results display:

The results of a search for a map collection are presented in a table with a statement of what you searched for and the number of collections found in the database to match your query.

For example: You searched for map collections with a name containing "xyz" . Your search found 3 Australian map collections.

Collection owner Collection name Location   Web Catalogue
Organisation XYZ Survey and Mapping Branch ACT [More details] [Link to Web catalogue]

NB* If only one map collection is found to match your query, the full details will be displayed (refer to 'Full Directory details display' (below).

When a search finds more than one collection, the following details will be provided for each in the summary display:

  • the name of the organisation owning the collection (with hyperlink to Web site if available)
  • the name of the branch or unit of the organisation where the collection is located, if applicable (with hyperlink to Web site if available)
  • state or territory the collection is located in
  • link to the full collection details via the red 'More Details' icon; and
  • link to a Web catalogue or description of the collection if one is available - look for the red 'Web Catalogue' icon.

For large lists (ie searches that find more than 10 collections), the collections are grouped 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 etc. and linked above and below the summary result set.

2. Full Directory details display

Every map collection in the Directory has a full entry. The red 'More Details' button in the Summary results display will take you to the full details of the collection in the Directory. Where a search only finds one matching collection, the full Directory details display appear automatically.

The holder of a map collection may include the following information about its collection in the Directory (refer to How to update an entry):

  • name of the organisation (and branch of the organisation if applicable) owning the collection
  • contact details including contact officer, street and postal addresses, including any location map which may be available on the web, phone, fax and email
  • Australian Business Number
  • other names by which the organisation is known
  • hyperlinks to the organisation's web home page and web catalogue if available
  • description of the collection
  • formats or types of materials in the collection eg digital data sets, globes, survey instruments
  • geographic areas covered by the collection: continents eg Africa, Asia; states eg NSW, WA; more specific areas and place names eg Port Stephens
  • subject areas covered by the collection eg agricultural, geophysical
  • chronological coverage eg pre-1800, 1851-1900
  • methods of collection control, classification schemes used, whether catalogued on the National Bibliographic Database (NBD) and the Australian Spatial Data Directory (ASDD)
  • access to the collection and associated service including opening hours, access conditions, number of staff, loan and copying facilities and publications
  • Links to information on the organisation's web site, if available, about online reference services, publications, service charter, collection development policy and digitisation policy


Contact: maps@nla.gov.au

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