Geological/Geographical Name Subject Access

Abstract

Catalogers, geo-science faculty members, and graduate students from several Rocky Mountain Region institutions were surveyed. The catalogers were asked about their provision of subject access through geologic or geographic names, while faculty and students were consulted about their use of such access points. Strategies for providing optimal access are explored, balancing the needs of users for vernacular or variant forms of names and the sometimes conflicting needs of the cataloging community for adherence to protocols governing the construction and tagging of "correct" forms.