Among the many issues surrounding the cataloging of graphical materials is the fact that there is no single standard for cataloging images. Practices and standards vary between institutions, between types of materials, and between the applications and formats in which the cataloged information will be presented. A map may be cataloged by a different set of criteria than a photograph, which may be cataloged differently than an architectural drawing. Additionally, users from a wide variety of knowledge bases may seek visual materials for a wider variety of purposes than textual materials.
This project presents an overview of current and long-established cataloging techniques for visual materials, outlining various practices for description and examining developing standards. Drawing from real-world implementations, the project explores practices used in specific graphic materials collections as well as some stumbling blocks presented by the complicated process of cataloging and accessing visual materials.