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Finding Maps in the CWU Library

Geographic locations covered by the map collection include small to large areas:
census areas > cities > Counties > states > countries > Continents > world> Universe

Types of Maps in the Map Room (and locations):

  • Topographic maps ( Filed by state and topo name, in map cabinets)
  • Forest Service, National Parks, & Recreational maps (Folded and filed in file cabinets)
  • Agriculture, politics, history - subject oriented maps (Cataloged with "G" numbers, in map cabinets)
  • Navigational: aeronautical & nautical charts (In separate maps cabinets)
  • Geologic, hydrologic & other USGS series (In envelopes on shelves)
  • Soil & Land Use (USGS, Dept. of Agriculture and Washington State maps - all on shelves)
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance (Historic maps for Wash., Oregon, Idaho, Montana & Nev. cities, Microfilm 892)
  • Census (Primarily electronic - see U.S. Census pages)
  • Aerial photos and satellite images (Wenatchee National Forest Photographs, and "G" numbers)
  • Atlases (In the Map Room and Reference cases by call number. All are listed on CATTRAX)

Maps Throughout Brooks Library:

The Map Room (third floor) contains large cabinets for maps are stored. The full range of map call numbers, from G 3180 to G 9980, is filed in two complete sequences:

  1. Large sets of maps which belong together (series maps) and their indexes.
  2. Maps cataloged individually (non-series maps) by single sheets.
  • These call numbers arrange maps by the geographic area they cover.
  • USGS map series (geologic, hydrologic, land use, etc.) and oversize atlases are located in envelopes and are placed on shelves at the back (Northeast corner) of the room.
  • Vertical files contain U.S. Forest Service maps, aeronautical charts, and street maps.

The Government Documents Collection (third floor) contains various maps, including:

  • Maps accompanying environmental impact statements for Federal or State land.
  • Weather maps of the U.S.
  • U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of the Census maps on microfiche.
  • Miscellaneous maps treated as government documents.
  • CD-ROMs containing maps that have been scanned or loaded as datafiles.

Finding a Map for a Geographic Area:

To successfully locate a map, first determine the geographic area and the type of map desired.

Many of the maps covering large geographic areas, as well as the atlases and maps included in books or documents, are listed in CATTRAX. "Map" or "atlas", along with the geographic area, can be used as a search term. (Remember to note the location when using CATTRAX. Maps can be found in several collections).

Topographic maps, and some of the maps in series, have a sheet index in the drawer at the beginning of the state (or the beginning of the set).

If a set of maps has a pamphlet index, it is located on top of the map cabinets near the set.

The G call number arranges maps together by geographic area. An index to the "G schedule" is available so that the collection can be "browsed" by location.

The Map Reference collection, in the map room, includes indexes, bibliographies, gazetteers, dictionaries, and guides used to find maps. These include:

Index to Geologic and Geophysical Mapping of Washington, 1899-1983 (plus supps) Z/6026/G3M37
Washington Geographic Names: Alphabetical Finding List F/889/W31 v.1 & 2
Guide to USGS Geologic and Hydrologic Maps Z/6027/U49G8
Publications [Index] of the U.S. Geological Survey (1879 to the present Doc. I 19.14:
Gazetteers of foreign countries Doc. D 5.319 & I 33.8 (paper and microfiche)
National Imagery and Mapping Agency's web-based GEOnet Names Server (GNS)
NIMA publishes the maps of foreign countries
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Contains information about almost 2 million physical and cultural geographic features in the United States.
GEOnet Names Server (National Imagery and Mapping Agency))
NIMA's database list the names and map location of foreign geographic features.

Map Checkout Policies

Most maps may be checked out of the library for two weeks. To do so, take the maps to the Government Documents Desk. An attendant will enter the map in the library database and provide a tube for protecting the map. Check out, and return, the materials at the Circulation Desk on the 1st floor. Some items are not allowed to circulate, such as Washington State topographic sheets, rare, fragile, or mounted maps, as well as globes, aerial photos, and plastic relief maps.

Map Room Equipment

The Map Room has a light table to aid with tracing maps. A stereoscope (for viewing aerial photos) and a magnifying glass are available at the Government Documents Desk.

Photocopying of Maps

As long as copyright restrictions are followed, maps may be photocopied on the self-serve copiers or at the Fishbowl (2nd floor). Photocopy services include enlargement, reduction and color copies. Equipment for copying microfilm and microfiche is available on the 3rd floor.

Reference Services

Hours for the Documents, Maps and Microforms Department on the 3rd floor are slightly shorter than the hours the library is open. Reference services are available, at the 3rd floor desk, during all hours that the Department is open. The telephone number is 963-1541.

Maps Online

Digital Chart of the World (http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/)
Select a geographic location from the world map and focus in on an area.
InfoMine Maps and GIS (http://infomine.ucr.edu/search/mapssearch.phtml)
A very helpful site for all types of mapping information and digital maps.
Maps and References, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research
(http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html)
University of Iowa site containing maps of various geographic areas.
Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/Map_collection.html)
Electronic collection of maps gathered by University of Texas. Includes over 300 maps of the United States, historical maps and city maps.
U.S. Department of the Interior Map Resources (http://www.doi.gov/maps/maps.html)
This site provides links to a number of map and other cartographic resources including Geospatial Data and Spatial Data Transfer standards.
USGS Global Land Information System (GLIS)
(http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/Webglis/glisbin/glismain.pl)
Access to all types of maps online.
World Map Connection (http://www.worldpress.org/map.cfm)
Links to online maps covering all areas of the world.

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