The
Government Maps cabinets house hundreds of maps created by a number of
U.S. Government Departments. All maps designated as "HU-Government
Maps" in the library catalog are found here.
Maps can depict both locations and topics; our collection covers information
ranging from population demographics, to transportation facilities, to
land use.
FINDING A MAP To search our online
catalog for maps, use the keyword search menu. In the box enter your
search word and "AND maps", for example "Afghanistan AND
maps" or "muslim AND maps". The icons on the right hand
side of your screen will show you whether the titles shown are maps (globe
icon) or books containing maps (book icon).
The map collection is located on the first floor of the
library, past the government documents shelves and the study rooms.
Our collection contains many maps that are not in the online
catalog, but are easily found by browsing the right folder or drawer.
Below, under "Map Types" you'll find a
short list of the most popular maps; you can also take a look at our more
detailed "Government Maps and Posters Holdings List", located
on the maps cabinets.
Please note that our Reference Department also has a number of atlases
and related reference materials.
CIRCULATION The collection is open for browsing. Larger maps can be
used in the library only; many of our smaller maps can be checked out
just like a book. If you are not sure whether the map you have selected
may be checked out, call xt.6328 to contact the Government Documents Coordinator
during business hours.
NEED HELP? If you need help locating a map, ask a Reference librarian
to help you; you can also reach the Government Documents Coordinator during
business hours at xt. 6328.
PLEASE NOTE There are a few categories of government maps that are
not shelved in this area. You will find them on the shelves in the Government
Documents stacks, under their respective call numbers. They are:
Bureau of Land Management Areas. (I 53.7/2: )
National Parks and Forests. (I 29.6 thru I 29.8:, and A 13.36/2: )
National Fish and Wildlife Refuges. (I 49.44/2: )
HANDLE WITH CARE Many of our maps are fragile and the older they are, the
harder they are to replace. We appreciate your caution in handling them.
If you need assistance, we are happy to help.
MAP TYPES
Census
Information Maps (Call no. C 3.62/4: and C 3.62/10:)
Location: drawer 1.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas: MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs. Also U.S. Congressional
Districts with a list of U.S.
Senators from the 103rd Congress onward. Please note: block and tract
maps for the Census of Population and Housing are available on DVD at
the Reference Desk. See Map Links for online information.
CIA Country,
Region, Continent and World Maps ( Call no. PREX 3.10/4:)
Location: large white notebooks on top of cabinets, as well as drawers
11 and 12
Shaded-relief and planimetric maps of areas of current interest. Especially
popular is the annually updated Political Map of the World series; many
CIA country maps also include information on land use, population density,
economic activity, ethnic groups, religious groups etc.
These maps are organized alphabetically by country or region name. A complete
list of names is provided in each notebook. For best results, try searching
by multiple names, for example: search by West Bank, Gaza, Israel, Middle
East, etc. See Map Links for online information.
USGS Topographic
maps – Virginia quadrangles (call nos. I 19.41: and I 19.81:)
and Counties and State maps (call no. I 19.108:)
Location: drawers 13, 14 and 15.
Topographic coverage of Virginia by quadrangle: 7.5 minutes of latitude
by 7.5 minutes of longitude. The 7.5-minute and slightly larger-scale
15-minute maps provide complete coverage of the shape and elevation of
the earth’s surface. They name and depict all prominent features
- natural and man-made - in great detail. Organized alphabetically by
quadrangle name.
For help in determining the right quadrangle use: “Virginia Index
to topographic and other map coverage”, located on top of the cabinets;
or The
USGS online locator. This search engine allows you to search for major
geographic features such as rivers, lakes, mountains, buildings, etc.
The search results will show major characteristics as well as latitude,
longitude and the name of the quadranglke in which your geographic feature
is located.
Use the pamphlet “Topographic map symbols” to read the maps
correctly. See Map Links for online information.
Virginia historic
and economic maps
Browse drawer 13 for a selection of maps including Virginia Historical
and Literary Maps; Virginia and Maryland's Colonial Boundaries 1603-1783;
Roanoke historical map; Virginia Economic Profiles Maps; etc.
BACK
TO TOP
MAP LINKS
Many government maps are also published online. We retain
our map collection for historical research; however, in order to ensure
that your data is the most current you should also search online.
Census
Maps
Helps you create maps for all categories of population data in the U.S.
Census. Click on "Maps and geography" for options and instructions.
CIA
Maps
Find current CIA country, region and world maps
USGS
Mapping Site
A wide array of maps and information about maps, including: topographic
map finder and interactive topographic maps, aerial photographs by
city name or zip code, national atlas, geographic names database, geospatial
data and more. To search for topographic maps, use the online locator.
Weather
Maps - National Climatic Data Center
Federal depository libraries may access the Monthly Climatic Data for
the World, Storm Data, and Local Climatological Data via this controlled
access site (access by password, ask at the Reference Desk)
Digital
Maps Collections (created by the Geostat Center at University of Virginia
Library)
Links to online maps collections.
David
Rumsey Historical Map Collection (commercial site by Cartography Associates)
This digital map archive combines a large collection of historical maps
with GIS applications. High-resolution, easy to navigate.
Map
Reference Websites (created by Northwestern University Library)
Links to online map reference tools. Great resources, including: local
times around the world, tide prediction, cartographic and spatial data,
map dictionaries and glossaries, geographic dictionaries etc..
Geography
and Cartography Resources Online (created by SUNY Buffalo Library)
Links to journals, GIS information sites, map sites and collections, professional
societies, government resources and more.
