National progress report of Norway 1988-1990

Since the last LIBER meeting in 1988, there has been both informal and professional contact between the Norwegian members of the mapcurator group. In spring 1988 the new mapcurator of the University Library of Trondheim visited the map collections of the University Library of Oslo and the National Archives. In addition to general infomation, we discussed the physical preservation and storage facilities of the map collections.

In spring 1989 two archivists from the National Archives visited the map collections of the Cadastral Service and the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. The contacts with our Danish colleagues have been made through the LIBER meetings. It was very useful for us to see their premises, be properly informed and to discuss topics o common interest. Besides, Norwegians always feel welcome when visiting their Danish colleagues.

In the report period Norwegian mapcurators have used most of their available working time to what we all know as 'daily tasks': acquisition, cataloguing, services to the users etc. However, the map collections of the university libraries of Oslo and Trondheim and of the National Archives can present some "news", particularly in the fields of catalogue automation and map storage.

Storage
In Trondheim they have rearranged all 300 to 400 manuscript maps and drawings into new file folders. For these folders a transparant polyester has been chosen. The polyester is said to contain no plasticizers or additives which can damage the maps. All maps have a folder of their own, and the folders are kept open at three sides to permit the map to breathe. Maps are handed out in their folders in the reading room.

In the National Archives we are rearranging our maps and drawings according to their size. Earlier all maps sizes with provenance in the same archives were held together in the same file folders. We still keep all maps from one archive together -and this also include most maps that have so far been retained outside the map room enclosed with textual documents. But we now measure the maps and sort them according to the sizes A0, Al and A2. This is a practical solution as we have steel cabinets with drawers measuring 127 x 92 cm (A0) for maps stored flat.
For the rearrangement new file folders have been produced. Former handling was rather risky because the thin paper folders were of poor quality. After consulting other map institutions -amongst others the Royal Library and the National Archives in Copenhagen- we decided on folders made of a high quality non acid cardboard produced in Holland. A fairly stiff cardboard was chosen to make handling easier and safer for the maps. File folders are in the sizes A0, Al and A2. We put appr. 10 maps in one file folder. The rearrangement has so far proved to be space saving, and the wear on the maps has been reduced.

Catalogue automation
Some years ago the National Archives adopted inventory automation for the recording and making inventories of archives coming in from the administration. Our ADP Department developed an inventorying system called KATAREG that aims both at building up a database and at producing paper inventories and labels for boxes and volumes. Now the base called KATAFINN has been made accessible for staff. The next step is to make it accessible for our users. As for the maps, KATAREG is now being used for making an inventory of a collection of 19th and 20th century railway maps and drawings.

In the University Library of Oslo maps are now being catalogued in the UBO:BOK data base. Maps recorded in the Norwegian National Bibliography from 1971 till now and in the Norwegian Union Catalogue are accessible. In addition to this, a CD-ROM containing data from the national bibliographies back to 1962 has just been produced.
The UBO:BOK online system has been developed by the university itself, and the search system has access points to personal name, word in title, word in corporation, subject heading, Dewey classification, periodical title and ISBN. Index browsing, right truncated search and logical operators are provided. The dialog is in Norwegian. Access to the UBO:BOK via the VAX computer system at the University of Oslo is possible from all libraries having data communication equipment.

Alfhild Nakken, Riksarkivet, Oslo