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Map Library
maplib@colorado.edu
303-492-7578 (ph)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Aerial photo of University Hill

Map Library

 

Map Library Resources for
ENVD 2002
Spring 2005

The Map Library Collection
The Map Library collection consists of about 200,000 maps, over 500 atlases and geographic reference books, and a growing collection of digital spatial data. Our collection provides well-rounded, world-wide coverage comprised of general and thematic maps and atlases at small and large scales and related reference materials such as gazetteers.

Map Library Location

Map Library Resources for the City Analysis Assignment
    Aerial Photographs
  • Satellite photographs for selected national and international cities.
  • Terraserver USA: USGS aerial photographs of the United States.
  • Atlases with aerial photographs of the Denver Metro Region and the Northern Front Range.
  • USGS aerial photographs on CD for the Front Range, 1990s.
  • The Map Library collection contains many other types of maps to help you research your chosen city. Maps showing topography, political boundaries, soils, vegetation, hydrology, and other themes present the environmental setting of the study area. Topographic maps are often the best place to start your background research. The Map Library has topographic maps for the whole United States and many foreign countries. Terraserver USA also serves out U.S. topographic maps.
Chinook, the University Libraries Catalog
    General instructions for searching Chinook.

    Tips on Searching for Maps
    We estimate that more than half of the maps in our collection are cataloged in Chinook. All of the atlases, reference books, and CDs in the Map Library can be found through Chinook.

    It is often helpful to limit your search to "material type: maps/globes". Many atlases and electronic maps are located in places other than the Map Library, so be wary of using the limit to "Location: Map Library".

    Always remember that when you search for a map in Chinook, you are not seeing our full collection; you are only seeing what has been cataloged so far. Come to the Map Library and we can help you search for what you need.

    Searching for Uncataloged Maps
    Uncataloged maps are arranged in order by geographic area in drawers that can be browsed. We have a number of indexes and databases in paper and online that we can use to help you find the map you need. Please ask us for help.
Understanding & Using Maps

Use these links to learn more about scale, USGS topographic map symbols, important considerations in cartography, and other map-related basics.

Topographic Maps: A discussion about topographic maps including map symbols and how to read a topographic map. From the USGS.

Making Sense of Maps: Discusses the basics of map use from the perspective of maps as historical evidence. From History Matters.

Understand Maps, from About.com's Geography section
Clear articles about various aspects of maps, such as scale, latitude and longitude, and map projections. It is sometimes a chore to ignore the flashing ads on this site, but the content is great.


Map Library Contact Information
Email: maplib@colorado.edu
Reference Desk: 303-492-7578
   
 
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