Searching for Maps & Data
- Search the Map Library Web Pages
- Searching for Maps - Tips
- Searching for Data - Tips
Search the Map Library web pages using Google:
Searching Chinook (CU Boulder's online catalog) is a good starting point when looking for maps. We estimate that more than half of the maps in our collection are cataloged in Chinook (CU Boulder's online catalog). All of the atlases, reference books, and CDs in the Map Library can be found through Chinook. Other places to search for maps include research databases and the Internet. The Map Library has created guides to finding maps online and in the Map Library by type of map and subject.
Ask for help! Searching for maps and data can be complex. Ask the Map Library staff for help.
Keyword Searching
- Usually the best way to begin a search for maps.
- Chinook Plus: Basic keyword searching only. Refine your search results using facets and tag clouds. Searches University Libraries digital collections and provides quick links to articles, databases, and more.
- Chinook Classic: Basic and Advanced search. Can limit searches by collection, location, or type of material using the advanced search.
Tips for all Keyword Searches
- Start out with a keyword search for the place name, starting with the most specific geographic region and moving to larger geographic areas if necessary.
- If you are looking for a specific type of map (such as a geologic map), include that information in your keyword search. For example: Boulder geology
- No need to use “and” between words.
- Can sort results by relevance (the default), date, or title.
- 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.
- Use * as a truncation symbol for up to 5 characters. ** will truncate an unlimited number of characters. For example, geolog*will search for geology, geologic, or geological.
- Limiting Options
- Limit by Collection: Maps/Atlases/GIS data. Be aware that these limits by material type will exclude any books accompanied by maps.
- Limit to Location: Map Library. This limit is helpful if you know the map you need is in the Map Library. However, it excludes many atlases and electronic maps that are located in places other than the Map Library (such as Reference and Art/Architecture).
Finding 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 the Map Library staff for help.
Find a Map Library Guide
Use the folllowing links to identify appropriate databases that include maps:
When looking for a map on the Internet, start with a Map Library Guide above. These guides link to relevant online cartographic material and can help you organize your search.
Tips for searching online
- Google Advanced Search
Advanced search allows you to limit your search to webpages from that country’s top-level domain (use "Then narrow your results by ...site or domain"). This is helpful when looking for international maps published by government agencies. - Google Images |Google Advanced Image Search
Limt your search to images. -
How Do I ...? Evaluate Sources (UCB Libraries)
A helpful guide to use when evaluating websites
Also see the Map Library's guide to geospatial data in the Map Library and online.
Things to keep in mind as you search for geospatial data:
What?
What subject or theme are you interested in?
(geology, pine beetle infestation, pollution…)
Where?
Geographic Region. What is your area of study?
(international, United States, region, county, or city…)
Who cares?
What agency might create this data or might be interested in collecting this data? Think of agencies tasked to work on a specific subject area and local/regional agencies.
(sea ice in the Arctic=National Snow & Ice Data Center, National Climatic Data Center, USGS Alaska Science Center…)
Search Chinook, the Libraries' catalog, to find government datasets, online data resources and purchased digital data.
1. Chinook Classic —Advanced Keyword Search: Finds GIS-ready data and ungeoreferenced electronic maps and atlases in all file formats.
- Enter search terms and select Material Type: Maps/Atlases/GIS Data and Electronic Version.
- Chinook automatically ANDs terms together unless you use quotes to search as a phrase.
- A search for boulder geology* will find records with the word boulder and the word geology anywhere in the record.
- A search for “boulder geolog*” will find records with only the phrase “boulder geology” in them.
- Use the * for a truncation symbol. (Truncates 5 characters. For more, use **)
- For example, “geolog*” searches for “geology” and “geologic” and “geological.”
- Advanced Search Screen Example
2. Chinook Plus
- You cannot narrow down a search to just electronic geospatial data in Chinook Plus the way you can in Chinook Classic.
- Under the Collections facet on the left, you can select Maps/Atlases/GIS Data, which will give you all paper or digital maps and GIS data.
- If you also select Online Library Resources—just be aware that this excludes all the data the Libraries holds on servers or CD/DVDs.
3. Experiment
- Try various search terms using the keyword search (Chinook Classic or regular)
- Statistics data*
- Data*GIS
- Any other terms with a theme, such as population or education
4. Ask for help!
maplib@colorado.edu
