Geography, Maps and Atlases

The Library has a specific Map Collection located on 2 NORTH; however maps and atlases are also located throughout the Library. There are over 20,000 maps in the Map Collection. Many are cataloged and can be found using OneSearch, the Library's online catalog.  See the box below for instructions on locating maps using OneSearch. Un-cataloged maps are found by browsing drawers for specific geographic topics. 

The maps are stored in one of three ways:

• FILE: small maps, filed vertically are in legal size beige file cabinets by categories labeled on the drawers (e.g., CIA, Road Maps, etc.) Most of these maps are cataloged and can be found using OneSearch.

• DRAWER: medium-sized maps, filed horizontally, are in large gray cabinets. There are both cataloged and non-cataloged maps in these cabinets. Cataloged maps can be found using OneSearch and are in the drawers with blue labels (e.g., National Geographic). Those not yet cataloged are in drawers with yellow labels or green labels and are arranged by topic.

• WALL MAPS: large maps, rolled on wooden dowels, are stored vertically in cases behind the file cabinets. Oversize wall maps are arranged horizontally on low shelving or on a rolling aluminum rack. Most of these maps are cataloged and can be found using OneSearch..

Specific un-cataloged maps: See the following locations for these maps:

• DRAWERS 13-15: Sacramento and Bay Area maps
• DRAWER 16: California maps on various themes.

Topographic maps are also un-cataloged. See the box below on this page for more information about Topographic maps.

• Begin searching for cataloged maps using the OneSearch Advanced Search Screen.
• Type in your topic in the first box (Argentina, oceans, europe and war, middle ages, etc.) then click SEARCH
• After the results are displayed; use RESOURCE TYPE (found in left column) and limit to MAPS

Topographic maps are shelved in drawers by state (see below) and then by the official place name designation of the map.

These official place names are overlaid on INDEX MAPS for California and other States.

The INDEX MAP for California is posted on the wall behind the file cabinets in 2 North Map Collection area. 

Index maps for all States can be found here.

Topographic maps are un-cataloged and are available for:

• Nevada (DRAWER 33)
• Arizona (DRAWER 34)
• Oregon (DRAWER 35)
• Washington (DRAWER 36)
• California (DRAWER 37)
• Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (DRAWER 71)

Find your location on the INDEX MAP, note the official place name, and use that place name to find the map alphabetically in the file drawers for that state (see above).

Topographic maps are also available from the USGS web links listed below:

Maps in the Map Collection (2 North) are organized by the following call numbers within the FILE, DRAWER, and WALL MAP sections.