How to Locate Materials in the Map Room

The Map Room is located in the northwest corner of the second floor of Bierce Library in Room 275. The map collection consists of sheet maps, atlases, and globes. The room also contains large work tables and a tracing table. The map collection is considered to be reference material, and like other reference material, doesn't circulate outside of the library. However, atlases can circulate outside the library for a 5-day period.

Using the Map Room Card Catalog

A card catalog is maintained in the Map Room to help locate most materials in the collection.
Cards are arranged by subject and geographical area.
The colored cards in the catalog correspond to the colors of the labels on map cases.

Using ZipLINK to Find Map Materials

Atlases and maps are classified according to the Library of Congress Classification System and can be found by using ZipLINK as well as the Map Room catalog.

Maps and atlases received and processed after June 1992 will be listed on ZipLINK only.

Maps

The following is a list of the types or the collection of maps located in the Map Room:

The Library of Congress Classified Map Collection - comprised principally of the United States and Ohio topographic maps. U.S. topographic maps are arranged by call number--G 3701s .C1 1957 .U61, then by series designation such as NH, NI, NJ, etc. Ohio topographic maps are also arranged by call number--G 4080s 24 .U6, then alphabetically by quadrangle name. In the first drawer of each series is an index map of the area covered. All classified maps are filed in map cases with orange labels.

Unclassified Maps - include out-of-state topographic maps, geologic maps, and thematic or special purpose maps. Unclassified maps are filed in the map cases with green labels. The maps in the drawers are arranged alphabetically first by continent, then either by country or by the individual state if the map is a United States map. Further subdivisions are made for Ohio maps and large maps series. These maps can be found through the Map Room catalog as well as through the ZipLINK online catalog.

United States Geological Survey Maps - maps stored in the beige file cabinets and include geologic, hydrologic, and mineral and oil investigations maps. U.S. Geological Survey maps are arranged alphabetically by series designation--GQ, HA, I, MF, MR, OC, OM. Within each series, maps are arranged in numerical order--GQ-1, GQ-2, GQ-3, etc. These map series are indexed in Publications of the Geological Survey 1879-1961 and supplements. Maps listed in the indexes are marked + if they are in the collection, however recent maps from 6/92 to the present are listed on ZipLINK only. The first cabinet drawer contains all U.S. Geological Survey map indexes.

State Geological Survey Maps - maps also housed in the beige cabinets around the corner from the U.S. Geological Survey maps that are arranged in alphabetical order by state, then in numerical order by map series. Publication lists for individual states are found in the first drawer.

Road Maps- for the United States and foreign countries are filed in numbered pamphlet boxes on top of the U.S. Geological Survey map cabinets.

Historic Urban Maps- are arranged alphabetically by city in the last seven drawers of the map cases.

Atlases

All atlases are classified with Library of Congress Call Numbers and are all listed on ZipLINK by author, title, call number and subject. Atlases are shelved around the perimeter of the Map Room.

Creating a Map

GIS at Bierce: FIRST STREET (Census Data and ArcView mapping software); FIRST STREET GIS Tutorial from the University of Michigan; CensusCD + Maps (Desktop mapping from Geolytics, Inc.)

Links:

Maps and Mapping: Color Landform Atlas of the U.S.; Demographic Data Viewer (SEDAC); Expedia Maps; MapQuest; Maps on Demand; National Atlas of the USA; National Geographic Map Machine; Odden's Bookmarks, Maps and Mapping, University of Utrecht, (tons of links); Univ. of Iowa, Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research; Map History/History of Cartography
GIS Related: Alexandria Digital Library; Digital Raster Graphics (USGS); GeoPlace; Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse; GIS Resources (Univ. of Texas); GIS Resource List (Univ. Edinburgh); Map Images and GIS Data (Univ. Mass., Amherst); USGS Digital Line Graph Data Browser (Univ. of Virginia); USGS National Mapping Info; Univ. of Virginia Geospatial and Statistical Data Center; Open GIS Consortium; GEO Data Explorer (USGS)
Demographic Data: Demographic Data Viewer (SEDAC); Government Information Sharing Project; Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC); U.S. Census Bureau; FedStats
Map Libraries: Harvard Map Collection; New York Public Library Map Division; Bodleian Map Library, Oxford University, UK
Commercial Maps: DeLorme Maps and Software; Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI); Map Link, Inc.; Omni Maps; World of Maps
Associations and Organizations: Association of American Geographers; American Library Association, Map and Geography Roundtable; Map Societies Around the World; National Geographic
Misc.: How Far Is It?; Current Geographical Publications; Microsoft Terraserver; Odden's Bookmarks, Maps and Mapping (many, many links here)
For more information or assistance, see the Map Librarian or ask at the Reference Desk.
Department of Geography and Planning (University of Akron)