The National Archives Catalog

Geographic Reference

Mandatory Repeatable Data Type Authority Entity Public Element Label
No Yes Variable Character Length (700) Geographic Authority File Product Yes Subject Term

 

Definition: Indicates the geographic areas represented in the microform product.

 

Purpose: Allows users to search for microform products by geographic areas.

 

Relationship: This element is independent.

 

Guidance:

Choose the appropriate geographic area from the Geographic Authority File. The Geographic Authority File is based on the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names® (TGN).

Use a geographic access point when materials have a geographic focus or a considerable body of information about a geographic location is contained in the microform product.

This data is called an "access point." Best practice is to "anchor," or explain, all access points narratively in the descriptive record in which the access point appears. You should anchor this access point in the Microform Product Title or Abstract field.

 

Examples:
Springfield (Bradford county, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America) inhabited place

 

Springfield (Delaware county, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America) inhabited place

 

Athens (Clarke county, Georgia, United States, North and Central America) inhabited place

 



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