Maps are classified using either Library of Congress (LC) call numbers or Superintendent of Documents
(SuDoc) numbers.
LC classed maps have records in SAGE. Most atlases are
also classed in LC.
SuDoc classed maps come from federal government agencies.
These call numbers correspond to a particular agency rather than to
geography. Many do not have records in SAGE, but finding tools
for these are located at the Information Desk or in the map area as
described below. Within the SuDoc system are topographic
maps from several agencies including the United States Geological
Survey.
TERMINOLOGY:
"Thematic" maps are those with a subject theme, such as geology,
vegetation, soil, or land use.
"Chart" is the name used for maps for air or sea navigation.
"Scale:" large-scale maps cover smaller areas in greater detail.
Topographic maps are an example. Small-scale maps cover larger
areas in less detail. Maps in atlases are an example.
The major scales in this collection are:
1:24,000 (7.5 minute). 1 inch represents a half mile.
1:50,000. 1 inch represents .8 mile.
1:63,360. 1 inch represents 1 mile.
1:100,000. 1 inch represents 1.6 miles.
1:125,000. 1 inch represents 2 miles.
1:250,000. 1 inch represents 4 miles.
1:500,000. 1 inch represents 8 miles.
1:1,000,000. 1 inch represents 16 miles.
The
Guide to Map Scale at Cal State Fullerton provides detailed
explanations.
Township, range, and section terminology and details can be found in Rebecca Hylland's
Topographic Map Scales and the General Land Office Grid System
article.
FINDING AIDS: Electronic and Print:
Try Sage
first. If the map or map series cannot be found there, consult
the listing below.
US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS: (I19.81--I19.110)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY/THEMATIC MAPS: (I19.76
--I19.91)
For details consult webpage on
Geology Map Resources.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE MAPS: (A13)
US Forest Service homepage:
select "Maps & Brochures," then search by forest name.
Public Lands Information Center
for both Forest Service and BLM maps.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAPS: (I19.106)
National Park Service provides A-Z online maps from park
brochures.
USGS Store includes a listing
of national park topographic maps.
Trails Illustrated: commercially produced up-to-date maps for most
national parks.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT MAPS: (I53)
Public Lands Information Center
useful for identifying many types of BLM maps.
GeoCommunicator interactive site for BLM land and mineral use
and land survey information.
US NATIONAL ATLAS: (I19.111)
NationalAtlas.gov
provides customized US and North American thematic maps.
National Atlas of the US is located in the Atlas Cases;
published in 1970.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY MAPS: (PrEx3)
World
FactBook provides basic country maps; the print maps (via Sage)
are more detailed.
FEMA MAPS: (FEM1.209)
FEMA Map Service Center allows searching for flood maps by
address.
TACTICAL PILOTAGE CHARTS: (D5.354)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY: (D5.326/7)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
FAA SECTIONAL/TERMINAL/WORLD AERONAUTICAL CHARTS: (TD4)
Only useful for the US. Print index found on the map cabinets
in the "Catalog of Aeronautical Charts and Related Products" (TD4.81
MAP). Also available at
NACO
Aeronautical Products Catalog.
US COAST AND GREAT LAKES NAVIGATION CHARTS: (C55.418)
Various "Charts and Publications" print guides are located on the
map cabinets (C55.418 MAP).
Searches and orders are available through
OceanGrafix or
C-Map.
WORLD COASTAL CHARTS: (D5.356)
"Public Sale" print guides are located on the map cabinets at
C55.440 or D5.351/2:1998/2/MAP.
An online source is the
Catalog of
Hydrographic Products or C-Map.
CANADA TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS: (G3400's)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
MEXICO TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS: (G4400's)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
GREAT BRITAIN TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS: (G5740's)
For details consult webpage on
Topographic Maps.
SOIL SURVEY MAPS:
Soil surveys and their accompanying maps are shelved on the fourth
floor at A57.38 Doc. Most are listed in
Sage; ask for
assistance at the Information Desk if you cannot locate a specific
soil survey. Listings of soil surveys by state and access to
online surveys can be found at the Natural Resources Conservation
Service Web Soil Survey
site or also as
WSS.
MAP CABINETS ARRANGEMENT: East (major sequences left to right):
Library of Congress call numbers. These maps can be
found on Sage.
Major sequences include:
G3400: Canada topographic maps, 1:250,000.
G4051: Colorado raised relief maps, 1:250,000.
G4051--G4311: US and Canada geology maps, various scales.
G4311: Colorado thematic maps, various scales.
G4410--G4419: Mexico topographic maps, 1:250,000.
Superintendent of Documents I19.81: Includes 7.5 minute
quadrangle maps, 1: 24,000, arranged alphabetically by state and
alphabetically by name of map within each state.
Superintendent of Documents A13.28: National Forest topographic
maps, various scales.
MAP CABINETS ARRANGEMENT: West:
All the maps in these cabinets have Superintendent of Documents call
numbers. Many are not found on Sage. Major sequences
include:
A57.69: USDA "Important Farmlands" maps.
C3.62: Census Bureau maps, including Larimer County (C3.62/9).
C55.418/7: NOAA US nautical charts (coastlines).
D5.326--D5.355: Defense Mapping Agency, 1:000,000; various world areas.
D5.356: Defense Mapping Agency world coastal charts.
I19.76--I19.91: US Geological Survey thematic maps.
I19.98: USGS topographic maps, 1:250,000.
I19.102: USGS state maps, various scales.
I19.106: USGS National Park maps, various scales.
I19.108: USGS county maps, 1:50,000. Incomplete other
than Colorado.
I19.110: USGS topographic maps, 1: 100,000.
I19.111: National Atlas thematic maps.
I53.11: Bureau of Land Management thematic maps.
I53.11/4: Bureau of Land Management Surface Management maps.
I53.11/4-2: Bureau of Land Management Surface Mineral
Management maps.
I53.11/4-3--I53.11/6: BLM thematic maps, including Colorado.
PrEx3.10/4: Central Intelligence Agency maps.
MAP SHELVES ARRANGEMENT: Superintendent of Documents
classification:
Most of these folded maps are not found in Sage. Major
sequences include:
A13: Forest Service maps.
C3--C55: Commerce Department and Census Bureau maps.
D5:354: Department of Defense Tactical Pilotage Charts;
1:500,000.
D103.66: US river navigation charts.
FEM: FEMA flood maps; Colorado and nearby states.
I19.25--I19.113: USGS "packet" maps. Identified through
the USGS
Publications Warehouse
or the Guide to USGS Publications (Z6084 .U49G493 Ref Desk).
Call numbers for the various packet map series are found on
the CSU library
USGS page.
I27-I72: National Park Service and Bureau of Land
Management maps.
PrEx3: Central Intelligence Agency maps.
TD: US aeronautical charts.
W: War Department maps, World War II.
MAP SHELVES ARRANGEMENT: Library of Congress classification:
These atlases and maps can be identified through
Sage. Major sequences include:
G1000--G1021: world atlases.
G1030--G1160: historical atlases.
G1200--G1534: US and state thematic atlases.
G1540--G2751: world and country thematic atlases.
G3301: geology maps.
G3400--G3612: maps of Canada.
G3690--G4383: US and state maps.
G4390--G5184: maps of the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, West
Indies.
G5200--G5668: maps of South America and South American countries.
G5700--G6966: maps of Europe and European countries.
G7400--G8198: maps of Asia and Asiatic countries.
G8200--G8904: maps of Africa and African countries.
G8950--G9084: Australasian maps.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Major federal government mapping agencies:
US Geological Survey
National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Federal Aviation Administration
National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (prior names: National Imagery &
Mapping Agency; Defense Mapping Agency)
GeoData
(federal, state and local geographic data)
Map Libraries:
Colorado
School of Mines
University
of Colorado-Boulder
Naval Postgraduate School (background on aeronautical and nautical
charts)
Humboldt
State University (background on aeronautical and marine/nautical
charts)
InfoMine: Maps & GIS
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