The University of Melbourne Library

Minutes of Meeting on 31 May 1999

The meeting was chaired by Nigel Flannigan.

1. Attendance:

Nigel Flannigan (Archi & Planning), Francisco Escobar (Geomatics), Bernie Joyce (Earth Sciences), Margaret Charlton (Education), Brendan Whyte (Student rep.), Brian Finlayson (Geography), Di Hodge (Archi & Planning Library), Bess Secomb (Engineering Library), John Cain (Map Section).

2. Apologies:

Richard Pennell, Tony Sagona, Priscilla Stott, Susan Bray, Alan Mayne.

3. Minutes of previous meeting:

The minutes were accepted.

4. Business arising..

4.1 Retrospective cataloguing of maps: John Cain reported that he had met with the retrospective map cataloguing project team that morning. Cataloguing will commence on June 9 and a total of 435 hours of cataloguing will be done by Access Co. With assistance from Map Section staff, it is hoped that this will allow cataloguing of all map series at ‘title level’ (one record per series).

4.2 Map Section 1999 materials budget: John Cain noted that the Map Section materials vote for this year has been finalized, with a total allocation of $19,000 for monographs and serials. Some of the monograph allocation has already been committed and $12 000 is in hand awaiting recommendations.

5. Map Section Weeding Policy.

The draft policy (10 May 1999) was circulated prior to the meeting. John Cain spoke briefly to the policy, noting that for sound management of the collection not all materials, however ephemeral, could be retained indefinitely and thus a weeding policy was required. There was some discussion, mainly about point 3 (materials outside the collection policy). It was agreed that when materials of this nature are being discarded, MCUG would be consulted. Another possible way to reach people interested in regions is through the ‘Interest Group’ email lists run by the International Office. The policy was approved.
Weeding Policy.

6. MCUG Mission Statement.

As it is two years since MCUG last approved its Aims & Responsibilities, they were presented for routine review. A copy was circulated prior to the meeting. After brief discussion, Nigel Flannigan requested the addition of ‘pro-active’ to the second point and this was agreed. The mission statement was approved.
MCUG Aims.

7. Additions to the Collection.

John Cain reported on some of the more noteworthy recent orders for the collection, including:

Raster 100K (Geoimage/AUSLIG) - scanned 1:100,000 mapping covering Victoria on cdrom.
National Digital Geoscience Data Sets (AGSO) - two cdroms containing a wide range of geoscience mapping data in vector and raster format, including geologic regions, geological map, crustal elements, regolith landform map, metamorphic map, magnetic intensity, gravity, etc.
Topo 2.5M (AUSLIG) - broad scale digital mapping dataset for Australia on cdrom.

8. Departmental Map Needs (standing item).

This item provides MCUG members with an opportunity to bring to inform the Map Section of any maps, geographic information or spatial information which may be required for future teaching or research. John Cain noted that a number of orders have been placed this year and that there is still $12 000 available in the 1999 Maps budget to be spent on maps and digital spatial data. Suggestions for materials to support teaching and research will be very welcome. Some suggestions were made on the spot.
JOHN to email a request for suggestions to MCUG members for them to circulate in their departments.

9. Other business.

None.

10. Next meeting.

11:00 am, Friday 1 October 1999, ERC Seminar Room 2.

John Cain, 16 June 1999.
e:\maps\mcug\99may-mi.doc

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