converting latitude and longitude

[MRAB]

Ronn Ross wrote:
> 
> 
> I'm attempting to convert latitude and longitude coordinates from 
> degrees minutes and second to decimal form. I would like to go from:
> N39 42 36.3 W77 42 51.5
> 
> to:
> -77.739855,39.706666
> 
> Does anyone know of a library or some existing out their to help with 
> this conversion?
> 
The conversion is simple enough. Why do you need a library?

BTW, are you sure the values are correct? I get '-77.714306,39.710083'.