Maps and Geospatial Imagery: Locating Non-Digital Maps
Finding Maps in the Library
You can find maps in the MU Libraries collections. Several kinds of maps are available.
- Topographic maps
- Topo! CD-ROMs
- General, reference, and thematic maps
- Geologic maps
- Vegetation maps
- Küchler Vegetation Map Collection - compiled by plant geographer, A.W. Küchler. All regions of the world are represented. These maps are listed in the Libraries Catalog. Search by keyword or subject, using "phytogeography" or other term, the name of the region, country or locality, and maps.
Maps can have call numbers that are a bit different than those used for books. Books, use the Library of Congress Classification system for call numbers. Some maps also use this system however some use the SuDocs system.
-
LC call numbers | Map for Maps | University of OregonEnlarge a section of this map to discover which Library of Congress call number that region can be found by.
-
LC call numbers | Guide to Subclass G | Library of CongressSometimes maps are filed by the Library of Congress Classification System. Generally these call numbers are in the G subclass, which is the geography area.
-
SuDocs | Basics | Michigan State UniversityExplains three main points of the SuDocs system with examples and a quiz.
-
SuDocs | Cartographic Resources | FDLPWhile many maps use classification numbers that are constructed according to the general rules in previous sections, this section covers numbers that are derived from elements other than a Cutter or series number, including maps such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute quadrangle maps and related U.S. Forest Service (USFS) maps
-
SuDocs | Classification Guidelines | FDLPSome maps are filed using a government documents system called SuDocs, short for Superintendent of Documents. This system is over seen by FDPL, the Federal Depository Library Program.
-
SuDocs | Structure of Classification Numbers | FDLPThe SuDocs Classification Number consists of a class stem and a suffix. The class stem is a general designation used to bring related publications together. The suffix uniquely identifies a publication and differentiates it from all others classified under the same stem.
Finding Atlases
Atlases are books with collections of maps, on a general area such as the World or a continent, on a country, or a topic.
These can be searched in the library's catalog.
Remember that an atlas will be broader in its coverage than an individual map. Topical atlases cover a very broad topic, such as climate, the environment, or population. Regional atlases will cover a large region or country.
