Geographical Resources > Establishing Geographic Names

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Establishing Geographic Names

See RDA Chapter 16 and the LC-PCC PS

United States 
Base the heading on the form found in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Search using their online form. Alternatively, use a recent edition of the Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide.

Australia
Base the heading on the form found in the Geoscience Australia Gazetteer of Australia.

Canada 
Ask your NACO reviewer to query Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

Great Britain 
Base the heading on the form found in the Ordnance Survey Gazetteer of Great Britain. Search using their online form.

New Zealand 
Base the heading on the form found in the New Zealand Geographic Place names Database.

Other Countries 
Base the heading on the form found in the work being cataloged together with a consideration of the form found on the GEOnet Names Server (GNS) using their online form. Alternatively, use a recent edition of an appropriate gazetteer.

Online Help 
For help with searching either the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) or the GEOnet Names Server (GEOnet), read the CPSO document Geographic Names and the World Wide Web.