correlating indexed records, standardized places, and the Library catalog
Unstandardized places seem to come from (1) user submissions and (2) indexed records. The latter could be resolved with index project setup that keeps standardization in mind. In census records, all the districts, precincts, townships with towns, etc., are clutter and wasted effort when we get to standardization.
The Library catalog entered the fray when I saw the attached problem in "Improve Place Names" this morning. After a little research, it appears Mexico has at least three parishes called Santa Catarina Martir but none in Mexico City.
I went to Antonio Bacilio Muños K2G8-44G in the tree and followed the hint for the christening. It comes from a collection described in the Library catalog as "Catholic pegisters [sic] of baptisms, confirmations, marriage petitions and marriages, deaths, church census, and parish trusts from (Santa Catarina), Cuauhtémoc, Federal District, Mexico." However, it was indexed as "Santa Catarina Virgen y Mártir, Tláhuac, Ciudad de México, México."
The boroughs (delegaciones) of Cuauhtémoc and Tláhuac are several boroughs apart, and both have parishes called Santa Catarina Virgen y Mártir. The ID cards on the microfilms do not specify which borough they came from. In the end I simply reduced the place to Mexico City, like his civil death record.
This all seems like a house of confusion to me, and patrons can only do so much. To become a house of order, we need better correlation between systems.
Also, if correcting errors in the Library catalog becomes a paid position, I would love to apply my twenty years as a proofreader and my Spanish and German language skills. 
Answers
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I agree, the place names project is a lot bigger than I originally anticipated myself. I often find myself checking dates in coordination with individuals because the names, counties, parishes, etc. have changed over time due to statehood, pre-colonization, post-colonization, and so many more things. It is possible that the data base is still being updated, especially with regard to foreign locations I would think.
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